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WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DIVISION
UNITED STATES FENCING
ASSOCIATION
These Bylaws incorporate
revsisions from 1994, 2002 and 2003.
This is the last version from May 2003.
The
Western Pennsylvania Division is incorporated as a Non-Profit.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE ONE
Section 1
The Western Pennsylvania Fencing Association is a nonprofit
organization, registered in the state of Pennsylvania. Its purpose is both charitable and
educational. The Western Pennsylvania Division shall herein after be referred to as
“the division” and is a duly chartered subordinate constituent body of the
United States Fencing Association incorporated, which shall hereinafter be referred to as
the “USFA”.
The
Division is empowered to exercise its duties in the following geographic area:
Western Pennsylvania: west to the Ohio state line, north to the
state line, east to Altoona, PA, and the Central Pennsylvania Division border, and south
to include the entire state of West Virginia.
ARTICLE TWO
Section 1
The objectives of the division shall be to:
· encourage and develop the art of fencing
· promote, sponsor, and manage local competitions
· promote participation of local fencers in all state, sectional,
and national competitions sponsored by the USFA
· be responsible for all other purposes and objectives as have
been promulgated by the by-laws and charter of the USFA
· be in compliance with all laws in the state of Pennsylvania that
pertain to a nonprofit organization
ARTICLE THREE
Section 1
Any person residing in the
boundaries of the division or who represents a fencing club within the same area shall be
eligible for membership. No member of this division may be a member of any other division
of the USFA.
Section 2
All classes of membership will be determined by the USFA. All
dues rates will be determined by the USFA.
Section 3
All
discipline, suspension and/or expulsion of a member or members will be
referred to the division executive committee. All appeal of this executive committee will
be referred to the board of directors of the USFA, for action under their by-laws.
Section 4
A voting member is a member of the division who meets the voting
member requirements of the national bylaws.
ARTICLE FOUR
Section 1
Election Procedures
The division shall hold elections as yearly. Any voting can be
done by secret ballot. The ballots may be mailed or cast at an annual meeting or a special
meeting held for that purpose. Each election shall have a tabulation of its ballots by an
independent committee. This committee shall have a final tabulation no later than July 15
of its current year. This tabulation will show the
election of the executive committee, which shall start its term the coming August 1 and
ending July 31 of the following year. All officers are eligible for re-election.
All terms will be for two (2) years, with the chair, first
vice chair and treasurer elected in odd years and the co-vice chair and secretary elected
in even years.
Section 2
Nominating Committee
A nominating committee chosen by the chairperson shall place in
nomination for each executive committee position and each USFA representative, as based on
division membership, one (1) or more members in good standing. Notification of nominations
will be given to the division. These nominations will be placed on the ballot along side
of a blank space for each office for a write-in candidate. The majority of the voting
members will determine the final outcome.
Section
3
Executive Committee
The management of the division shall be vested in an executive
committee. The executive committee shall be composed of the following:
A
chairperson, a vice-chairperson, a co-vice chair, a secretary, and a treasurer. These five
(5) people will be the only voting members of the executive committee.
Description
of each officer’s responsibilities are described in the latest USFA Operating manual
or as updated by the USFA. All members of the executive committee and all advisory board
members must be members in good standing as of the end of the membership year preceding
the year in which they take office and must maintain USFA membership during their term of
office..
Section 4
Additional Roles of Executive Committee
All members of the executive committee shall hold a dual
position of an Additional director to the Mid-Atlantic section. When warranted by the number of members in the
division, the additional directors to the section will consist of:
The vice chair will be the first
additional director.
The treasurer will be the second
additional director.
The co vice chair will be the
third additional director.
The secretary will be the fourth additional director.
Under the Mid-Atlantic Section by-laws, the chair has automatic
voting privileges.
When other additional directors are required, they will be added
to the ballot. These additional directors will hold an advisory position on the executive
committee with no vote.
Section
5
Representatives to the USFA Congress
The Division will elect representatives to the USFA Congress
yearly, in accordance with the USFA bylaws.
Section
6
Quorum of Executive Committee
A quorum shall consist of 60 percent (60%) of the members of the
Executive Committee or three (3) members, whichever is greater.
Section 7
Good Standing
All members of the executive committee and all advisory board
members must be members in good standing as of the end of the membership year preceding
the year in which they take office and keep current USFA membership.
Section
8
Removal of
member of Executive Committee
Any member of the executive committee who fails to perform his/her
duties may be removed from office using the following procedure:
A. Written
notification of cause of removal must be provided to the entire Executive committee including the member to be removed.
B. At any
meeting of this type a 75 percent (75%) quorum of the executive committee must be present.
C. The member so charged has the right to
appear and present his arguments against dismissal.
D. The member who is contemplated for
removal has no vote for this meeting.
F. Failure to
attend three (3) consecutive executive committee meetings without an excuse will trigger an automatic review by the executive
committee for dismissal action.
Section 9
Chairperson Appointments
A.
The Chairperson will appoint a person to fill all unexpired terms of office on the
executive committee.
B.
The chairperson will appoint all committee heads and fill all open offices. They will be
an advisory voice to the executive committee.
ARTICLE FIVE
Section
1
Meetings of the executive committee shall be held on a regular
basis at such time and place as designated by the chairperson. A meeting must be called at
the written request of three (3) or more members of the committee. Executive committee
members shall be given no less than 48-hours prior notice of all meetings. All meeting
with the exception of disciplinary actions are to be open to all members.
Section 2
An
emergency vote by the executive committee can be taken in cases where it is impractical to
meet or to provide 48-hour prior notice of a meeting.
An emergency vote must be conducted in person, by teleconference or by
email. Any action will need a quorum. These
actions will be added to the minutes at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
A. The
bout committee chair will be responsible for the necessary officials for all division
scheduled bouts. They or their agent will act as the head of the bout committee. The
committee shall be composed of a total of three (3) people. They shall decide all disputes
during a competition in the division.
B. The technical committee chair shall oversee all
machinery owned by the Division and the use of all equipment at all meets.
C. The
executive committee or the chairperson may create other additional committees as they
seem proper.
ARTICLE SIX
A. An
annual meeting for all members will be held during each chairperson term. The time, place
and date will be determined by the executive committee for maximum attendance. This
meeting may be held before or after a fencing event.
B.
A special meeting must be called
by the chairperson upon request of seven (7) voting members. The chair will give seven (7)
days written notice to all voting members in good standing. Time, place and date will be
determined by the chair. Said notice must include written information as to the business
that will be transacted during said meeting. No additional business can be brought to the
attention of said quorum. A majority vote of the members in attendance will be binding on
the executive committee.
C. A quorum of seven (7) voting members in
good standing are necessary for any actions during these meetings. A majority of the
quorum shall govern and override any adverse actions of the executive committee for the
specific business as notified. No other additional actions may be taken.
D. These bylaws
may be amended at any annual membership meeting or special membership meeting called for
that purpose, by a majority vote of those in attendance, in person or by proxy. Notice of
the proposed amendments shall be provided to voting members at least 30 days in advance of
such meeting. Unless otherwise specified, amendments to these bylaws will take effect on
Aug. 1 or 30 days after passage, whichever comes first.
E. Any specific executive action not covered by these
by-laws will be governed by the bylaws of the USFA, the laws of the state of Pennsylvania
or Robert’s Rules of Order.
F. All
by-laws, regulations and matter of policy concerning the conduct of competition as set forth in the fencing rules and manual of the
USFA are hereby incorporated as part of these by-laws without action by the executive
committee or members of the division.
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