BYLAWS
1. ARTICLE ONE - NAME
The name of the organization shall be Wonderland Wizards Youth Hockey Association, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as WWYHA).
2. ARTICLE TWO – PURPOSE
The purpose of the WWYHA is to support the development and enjoyment of the sport of hockey through its play and all related activities.
3. ARTICLE THREE – PLAYING PROGRAMS
The WWYHA’s playing program encompasses all levels of hockey proficiency, but falls within two principal categories, as follows: House Teams and Travel Teams
3.1 House Teams: The WWYHA administers a recreational hockey league, which is established for the enjoyment and development of its participants. House league play is organized to achieve a learning and recreational atmosphere featuring equal ice time for all and intramural competition among players of similar abilities.
3.2 Travel Teams: The WWYHA organizes, administers and supports travel teams to represent the WWYHA in competitive hockey. Our Travel teams offer players with stronger skills a more intense experience. Participation on these travel teams is based on demonstrated skill, proficiency and sportsmanship as determined by the responsible coach(es) in accordance to standards established pursuant to Section 3.3.
3.3 Team Management: Coaches of all teams playing under WWYHA affiliation will be appointed and supervised by the WWYHA. The coach has sole authority and responsibility for the team, subject to the standards of the WWYHA and USA Hockey. Coaches serve for a single season and may be reappointed for succeeding terms. Each coach will assure that the team has a manager to handle team administration. Coaches may appoint assistant coach (es). Coaches must have their appropriate USA Hockey Coaching credentials.
3.4 Team Sponsorship: The WWYHA can accept community, commercial and individual sponsorship for its teams, which may be subject to approval by the WWHYA Board. Such sponsorship shall be consistent with the purpose, goals and policies of the WWYHA.
4. ARTICLE FOUR – MEMBERSHIP
The WWYHA has three classes of members: regular, honorary and automatic. Refer to Article 5 for a description of voter eligibility.
4.1 Regular Members are parents or guardians of children registered in WWYHA programs. Each family unit is entitled to one voice in the affairs of the WWYHA brought to the attention of the membership at large. This only applies to families that are current and up to date on their financial obligations.
4.2 Honorary Members designated by the board in recognition of outstandingly meritorious service to WWYHA and the sport of hockey. Membership shall continue until withdrawn by vote of the Board. An Honorary Member is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a Regular Member.
4.3 Automatic Members are elected Officers and appointed members of the Board of Directors, hereinafter collectively referred to “Board Members, Board of Directors, or the Board.” An Automatic Member is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a Regular Member.
5. ARTICLE FIVE – ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE
5.1 Only elected Officers (i.e. Executive Committee members) are eligible to vote at meetings of the Executive Committee. Only Automatic Members (i.e. Board Members) are eligible to vote on matters that come before the Board of Directors. Regular members are eligible to vote on matters that are presented to the membership at large. The decision to bring matters for a vote to the membership at large will be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
5.2 At all meetings, all votes shall be via voice, except that for election of Officers, ballots shall be provided and there shall not appear any place on such ballots any mark or marking that might tend to indicate the person who cast such ballot. Voting shall not be done by proxy.
5.3 At any regular or special meeting, if a majority of the membership so requires, any question properly brought before the Board, may be voted upon, in the manner and style provided for elections of Officers. Each member shall have one vote and such voting may not be done by proxy.
6. ARTICLE SIX – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A Board of Directors shall manage the Business of this corporation. Members of the Board of Directors shall be members of the corporation.
The Board consists of the elected Officers of WWYHA plus Directors, not to exceed twenty-one (21) or less than seven (7). An affirmative vote of a majority of the Board may increase or decrease the number of Directors. No reduction in the number of Directors shall operate to remove a Director then serving, except that the number of Directors can be reduced to take effect at the next annual meeting. Members of the same family unit shall not hold board positions simultaneously. The President of the WWYHA shall serve as Chairperson of the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall serve as Secretary to the Board. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at least bimonthly at the call of the Chairperson and may be held without notice. Whenever possible such meetings shall be preceded by notice to the members of the Board at least two (2) days prior to such meeting. Neither the business to be transacted, nor the purpose of any meeting of the Board need be specified in the notice of such meeting, except that if notice is given of a meeting wherein it is proposed to amend these by-laws, notice that an amendment is proposed shall also be given. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum. Each Director shall have one vote and voting may not be done by proxy. The act of a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless these by-laws or law requires the act of a greater number.
6.1 Directors
Directors shall be appointed by affirmative vote of the majority of the Officers to provide leadership for the principal program and administrative functions of the organization. The term of Director's service shall be from the time of appointment until the next annual meeting of the members. A Director is eligible for re-appointment to the Board in any functional role.
Vacancies occurring during term of appointment shall be filled for the remainder of the term by affirmative vote of the majority of the Officers. A Director may be removed by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors when sufficient cause exists for such removal. The Board of Directors shall adopt such rules as it may consider necessary for the best interests of the corporation for a hearing on charges against a Director. A Director may be represented by counsel upon any removal hearing.
6.2 Executive Committee
The Executive Committee consists of the elected Officers of WWYHA. It shall formulate and recommend policies for consideration by the Board. It may act for the Board between the meetings of that body to ensure the successful administration of WWYHA, subject to review and approval of its decisions by the Board at its next subsequent meeting. The Executive Committee shall have authority to amend these by-laws with approval by the Board of Directors.
6.3 Standing Committees
Standing committees may be formed from among the Board of Directors. Members of standing committees shall serve for the duration of their term as directors unless otherwise determined by the Board. Standing committees can include but not necessarily be limited to:
Audit Committee – composed of three Directors, only one of whom may be an officer. The Co- Treasurers are ineligible to serve on the Audit Committee which assures that the finances of WWYHA are administered soundly and constructively.
Rules and Sportsmanship Committee - composed of the at least one Director. This committee ensures that the WWYHA and its teams sustain the quality of the game. Specifically, and without limitation, all major infractions resulting in ejection may be reviewed by the Committee to determine if additional disciplinary action is warranted.
6.4 Activity Committees
Activity committees may be formed to assist in carrying out the specific programs and activities of the organization. Each committee shall have a chairperson and members that may be drawn from outside the Board.
7. ARTICLE SEVEN – OFFICERS
The election of Officers shall take place at the April meeting of the Board of Directors. A vote shall be taken separately for each office in the order of President, Vice President, Co-Treasurers, Secretary and Registrar. A majority vote of the Board Members voting at the April meeting shall be required for the election of Officers.
The Officers of the corporation shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Registrar and Co –Treasurers. The term of office for each Officer shall begin at the end of the April meeting of the members, wherein they were elected. Each officer shall hold office for the term for which they were elected and until their successor has been elected and qualified unless they shall cease to be in office. Vacancies in offices shall be filled by the affirmative vote of the majority of the members of the Board of Directors. Officers may be re-elected, but the maximum number of successive terms in any one office shall be five (5). All Officers shall be members of the Board of Directors. No Officer or member of the Board of Directors or committee members shall for reason of their office be entitled to receive any salary or compensation with the exception of designated USA Hockey credentialed coaches.
7.1 The President shall preside at all meetings, shall present an annual report of the work of the organization, shall appoint all committees, shall see all books, reports, and certificates as required by law are properly kept or filed, and shall have such powers as may be reasonably construed as belonging to the chief executive of any organization. The President shall serve at least a two year term of office, unless they are re-elected, but the maximum number of successive terms in any one office shall be five (5). The President shall serve one year on the Board of Directors after their serving term as President is expired.
7.2 The Vice President shall, in the event of the absence or inability of the President to exercise the Office, become acting President of the organization with all the rights, privileges and powers as if he/she had been the duly elected President. The Vice President shall serve at least a two-year term of office, and will take over as President when the President’s term has expired.
7.3 The Secretary shall keep the minutes and records of the organization in appropriate books. It shall be the Secretary's duty to file any certificate required by any statute, federal or state. The Secretary shall give and serve all notices to members of this organization. The Secretary shall be the official custodian of the records and seal of this organization. The Secretary shall attend to all correspondence of the organization and shall exercise duties incident to the office of Secretary. The Secretary shall serve at least a two-year term of office.
7.4 The Co-Treasurers have the care and custody of all monies belonging to the organization, shall be solely responsible for such monies or securities of the organization and shall exercise all duties incident to the office of Co-Treasurer. The Co-Treasurers must be one of the Officers who shall sign checks of the organization. No special fund may be set aside that shall make it unnecessary for either of the Co-Treasurers to sign the checks issued upon it. The Co-Treasurers shall render at stated periods, as the Board of Directors shall determine, a written account of the finances of the organization and such report shall be physically affixed to the minutes of the Board of Directors at such meetings. The Co-Treasurers shall serve alternating two-year terms of office such that in each year one of the Co-Treasurers will have at least one year of previous experience.
7.5 Registrar creates all travel team rosters in a timely manner for all Wonderland Wizards teams through USA Hockey Cyber Sport software, modifies rosters as necessary throughout the season while adhering to USA Hockey and CHC guidelines and deadlines, works closely with CHC Registrar, generates membership and coaching reports as needed, assists Wonderland Wizards coaching directors to ensure all coaches have completed required certifications and trainings, assists Director of Team Parents to ensure all team parents have necessary paperwork for team binders and works on the Wonderland Wizards tryout committee and assists with tryout policies and procedures. The Registrar will serve at least a two year term in office.
8. ARTICLE EIGHT – BOARD MEETINGS
The Board of Directors will hold meetings bi-monthly, at a minimum, to conduct normal business of the organization. These meetings shall be publicized by the Board in a manner reasonably designed to give notice to the members of the organization so that anyone interested in attending can do so. If for any reason the board meeting must be closed to only board members, this will be communicated at the start of the meeting. Board meetings shall be publicized by the Board in a manner reasonably designed to give notice to the members of the organization. These Board meetings shall be held at least bi-monthly. The presence of not less than nine (9) members shall constitute a quorum and shall be necessary to conduct the business of this organization, but a lesser number may adjourn the meeting for a period of not more than two (2) weeks from the date scheduled. The Secretary shall send a notice of this re-scheduled meeting to be sent to all those members who were not present at the meeting originally called.
The President shall preside over the meeting. The President may call special meetings of this organization when he/she deems it to be in the best interest of the organization. Notices of such meeting shall be made to all Board members at least five (5) days, but not more than (10) days before the scheduled date set for such special meetings. Such notices shall state the reasons for which such meeting has been called, the business to be transacted at such meeting, and by who called. At the request of a quorum of the Board of Directors, the President shall cause a Special meeting to be called, but such request must be made in writing at least three (3) days before the requested scheduled date. No other business but that specified in the notice may be transacted at such special meeting without the unanimous consent of all members present at such meeting.
9. ARTICLE NINE – NOMINATIONS
Nominations for elected Officers shall be made by a nominating committee of two (2) members designated by the executive committee on or before the March meeting. The committee shall not include incumbent Officers. Not less than two (2) weeks prior the April meeting at which the election of Officers shall take place, the Nominating Committee, of not less than two (2) individuals, shall review potential candidates for positions of Officers that have been brought to their attention by members of WWYHA, or by the interested candidates themselves. After review, the Nominating Committee will insert those candidates onto the ballot. All candidates, other than those reviewed and nominated by the Committee may be nominated from the floor and placed on the ballot at the April meeting scheduled for the election of Officers. All candidates nominated from the floor of such meetings must communicate their consent to the Nominating Committee, prior to the election, and agree to serve, in order to be eligible for the office sought. The Nominating Committee will act as the "Inspectors of Election" and shall at the conclusion of such balloting certify in writing to the Chairperson the results, and the certified copy shall be physically affixed in the minute book to the minutes of that meeting. No Inspector of Election shall be a candidate for Office or personally interested in the question voted upon.
10. ARTICLE TEN – ORDER OF BUSINESS
The order of business for all regular meetings shall be as follows:
a. Roll Call:
b. Reading of the minutes of preceding meeting:
c. Reports of Officers:
d. Reports of Directors:
e. Reports of Committees:
f. Old and unfinished business:
g. New business:
h. Good and welfare.
11. ARTICLE ELEVEN - DUES
The dues of the WWYHA shall be determined on an annual basis as voted upon by the members of the Board. Fees will be assessed based on a projected budget.
12. ARTICLE TWELVE–DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS ON DISSOLUTION
All assets, after the payment of debts shall be distributed as follows:
a. Equipment shall be sold upon acceptance of the highest bid.
b. Cash shall be distributed after a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
c. Distribution of donations shall be made to youth organizations related to sports and or any other charitable organization the Board feels warrants their support.
13. ARTICLE THIRTEEN - AMENDMENTS
13.1 These By-laws may be altered, amended, repealed or supplemented by an affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the Board of Directors.
13.2 The foregoing By-laws supersede and replace any and all previously enacted By-laws, Rules, and Amendments thereto and hereby ratified and accepted by the undersigned majority of the Board of Directors of the Wonderland Wizards Youth Hockey Association the 6th day of March 2012.
WWYHA BY-LAWS updated (March 17, 2014)