Okanagan Valley Sport Athletic Association

Central Constitution

SECTION 4 SOCIETY ACT CONSTITUTION OKANAGAN CENTRAL SCHOOLS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ARTICLE A : NAME: 1.1 The name of the Society is “OKANAGAN CENTRAL SCHOOLS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION” ARTICLE B : PURPOSE:. The purpose of the Society is: (a) to provide students with the opportunity to realize the physical, social and emotional values that can be derived from interschool competition in a wide range of sports. (b) to promote competition and sportsmanship, and to develop a high level of excellence in the skills and appreciation of these sports among member schools. (c) to co-operate with other athletic administrative bodies within the confines of the Okanagan Valley area. (d) to be a member of and follow the guidelines of B.C. School sports and its sports governing commission. (e) to honor the code of desirable practices as set down by B.C. School Sports (f) to organize Okanagan Central Zone Championships and to determine the zone representative for Okanagan Valley competitions. ARTICLE C: OPERATIONAL PHILOSOPHY (A) Athletic programs should span the school grades 4-12 along the continuum of participation with gradual but increasing levels of competition. Member schools will adopt this philosophy for each grade with regards to levels of participation and the degree of competition. (B) Inter-school athletes will offer all players playing time and the ability to participate. (C) Inter-school athletic programs must provide the enriched development necessary for the continuation of elite athletics in post secondary life. (D) Inter-school athletics expects all team members will follow expected codes of conduct, and principles of fair play. Team defining players, coaches, managers, sponsors, and parents. (E) Inter-school athletics is an important supplemental activity which must always be in conformity with the educational objectives of member schools. 60 (F) Inter-school athletics from grades 4-12 follow a logical systematic progression in philosophy and implementation. (G) Inter-school athletics expect a level of commitment from all team members to their program which includes team activities, practices and games. . ARTICLE D: PRINCIPLES FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY GRADE (A) GRADE 4 ELEMENTARY (i) Introduction to activity and concepts of the game (ii) Focus on game skills (iii) “No Cut” policy for team sports (iv) “Standards” may be used for district X-Country and Track & Field meets (v) Emphasis on participation (vi) Optional published scores or point total (vii) Full and Equal playing time (viii) Everyone is encouraged to participate (ix) Games and leadup modifications in place facilitate skill development (x) Suggested 6 week season including all practice and play (B) GRADE 5 ELEMENTARY (i) Introduction to activity and concepts of the game (ii) Focus on game skills (iii) Introduction to individual skills (iv) “No Cut” policy for team sports (v) “Standards” may be used for district X-Country and Track & Field meets (vi) Equal multiple teams encouraged if large numbers restrict playing time (vii) Emphasis on participation (viii) Optional published scores or point total (ix) Full and Equal playing time (x) Everyone is encouraged to participate (xi) Games and leadup modifications in place facilitate skill development (xii) Suggested 8 week season including all practice and play (C) GRADE 6/7 ELEMENTARY (i) Introduction to activity and concepts of the game (ii) Focus on game skills (iii) Introduction to individual skills (iv) “No Cut” policy for team sports (v) “Standards” may be used for district X-Country and Track & Field meets (vi) Equal multiple teams encouraged if large numbers restrict playing time (vii) Emphasis on participation (viii) Optional published scores or point total (ix) Full and Equal playing time (x) Everyone is encouraged to participate (xi) No league standings (xii) Introduction to Meets/Jamborees (xiii) First reduction of Game modification for skill development (xiv) Suggested 10 week season including all practice and play 61 (D) GRADE 7 MIDDLE (i) Continuation of concepts of the game (ii) Focus on individual skills within the context of the game (iii) “No Cut” philosophy (iv) Equal multiple teams encouraged if large numbers restrict playing time (Given scheduling limitations) (v) Emphasis on participation in a competitive environment (vi) Optional published scores or point total (vii) Full and Equal playing time (viii) Everyone is encouraged to participate (ix) No league standing (x) Introduction to Inclusive Team Championships/Jamborees (xi) Game modification for skill development (xii) Suggested 12 week season including all practice and play (E) GRADE 8 MIDDLE (i) Continuation of concepts of the game (ii) Focus on individual skills within the context of the game (iii) “No Cut” philosophy (iv) Equal multiple teams encouraged if large numbers restrict playing time (Given scheduling limitations) (v) Emphasis on participation in a competitive environment (vi) Published scores or point total (vii) Full and Equal playing time (viii) Everyone is encouraged to participate (ix) League standing (x) Introduction to Inclusive Team Championships/Jamborees (xi) Introduction to travel outside the Zone (xii) Second reduction in Game Modifications for skill development (xiii) Suggested 12 week season including all practice and play (F) GRADE 9 MIDDLE (i) Specialized skill development (ii) Introduction to try-out process/training camp (iii) Equal multiple teams encouraged if large numbers restrict playing time (Given scheduling limitations) (iv) Balance between participation in a competition (v) Size restrictions may apply (vi) Introduction to travel outside the Okanagan (vii) Zone and Valley Team Championships (viii) Third reduction in Game Modifications for skill development (ix) Suggested 14 week season including all practice and play 62 (G) GRADE 10 SECONDARY (i) Increasingly specialized skill development (ii) Try-out process/training camp (iii) Multiple teams encouraged if large numbers restrict playing time (Given scheduling limitations) (iv) Balance between participation and competition (v) Opportunity for playing time may not be equal (vi) Participation may not be full and equal (vii) Team size restrictions apply (viii) Emphasis on competition within a participatory environment (ix) Zone, Valley and Provincial Team Championships (x) Fourth reduction in Game modifications for skill development (H) A,AA,AAA,AAAA Senior Secondary (i) High level of skill development (ii) Try-out process/training camp (iii) Tiered multiple teams encouraged if large numbers restrict playingtime (Given scheduling limitations) (iv) Opportunity for playing time will be less equal (v) Team size restrictions apply (vi) Few game modifications in place (vii) Focus on competition ARTICLE E: DISSOLUTION On the winding up or dissolution of the Society, the assets of the society shall not be distributed among the members, or any of them. After all debts have been paid, or provision for their payment has been made, the assets remaining shall be paid, transferred and delivered to the Central Okanagan Bursary Committee or if such committee is no longer in existence, to such charitable group, institution or body as selected by the member of the Society. This provision shall be unalterable. ARTICLE F: PROFITS The Society shall operate without purpose of gain or profit to its members and any profits or other accretions to the Society shall be used in promoting its objects and this provision shall be unalterable. 63 SECTION 5 SOCIETY ACT BY-LAWS OF OKANAGAN CENTRAL SCHOOLS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ARTICLE A: INTERPRETATION 1.1 In these by-laws unless the context otherwise requires, (a) “Association” means the Okanagan Central Schools Athletic Association, the Society herein; (b) “Directors” means the directors of the Society for the time being; (c) “Society Act” means the Society Act of the Province of British Columbia for time to time in force and all amendments to it; (d) “Registered Address” of the member means his address as recorded in the Register of Members; (e) “Okanagan Valley Schools Athletic Association”, means the Association comprised of the member schools of the South Okanagan - Similkameen Athletic Association, The North Okanagan Athletic Association, the Okanagan Central Schools Athletic Association and the West Okanagan Athletic Association. 1.2 The definitions in the Society Act on the date these by-laws become effective apply to these by-laws. 1.3 Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa; and words importing the neuter include the masculine and the feminine gender and vice versa ARTICLE B: MEMBERSHIP 2.1 The members of the Society are the applicants for the incorporation of the Society, and those who subsequently have become members, in accordance with these by-laws and, in either case, have not ceased to be members. 2.2 There shall be two classes of membership in the Association: (a) any secondary school in the boundaries of School District #23 in British Columbia which has been accepted in accordance with these by-laws (hereinafter member school); (b) any teacher who is a teacher in a member school in good standing. 64 2.3 A school or person may apply to the directors for membership in the Society and upon acceptance by the directors shall be a member. 2.4 Every member shall uphold the constitution and comply with these By-laws and the Rules and Regulations of the Society passed pursuant thereto. 2.5 The amount of the membership dues shall be a sum fixed from time to time by resolution of the directors and ratified by the Board of Governors. If membership dues are not paid within sixty (60) days of the due date, the member shall cease to be a member in good standing. 2.6 A person shall cease to be a member of the Society, (a) by notifying the directors in writing to the effect that he desires to withdraw from membership in the Society, (b) upon being expelled, or (c) upon his failure to pay any membership fees, subscription or indebtedness due to the Society, and upon the directors causing the name of such member to be removed from the register of members. 2.7 The directors shall have the power by a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of those present to expel or suspend any member whose conduct shall have been determined by the directors to be improper, unbecoming, or likely to endanger the interest or the reputation of the Society, or who willfully commits a breach of the Constitution, By-laws, or Rules and Regulations of the Society. No member shall be expelled or suspended without being notified of the charge or complaint against him or without having first been given an opportunity to be heard by the directors at a meeting of the said directors called for that purpose. 2.8 (a) a member may be expelled by special resolution of the members passed at a general meeting; (b) the Notice of Special Resolution for expulsion shall be accompanied by a statement of the reason or reasons for the proposed expulsion; (c) the person who is the subject of the proposed resolution for expulsion shall be given an opportunity to be heard at the general meeting before the special resolution is put to a vote. ARTICLE C: MEETINGS OF MEMBERS 3.1 (a) The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held during the second week of June or such other date as the directors may from time to time determine but in no case more than fifteen (15) months after the last Annual General Meeting. (b) General meetings of the Society shall be held at such time and place, in accordance with the Society Act, as the directors decide. 3.2 Every general meeting, other than an Annual General Meeting, is an extraordinary general meeting. 65 3.3 The directors may, whenever they think fit, convene an extraordinary general meeting. 3.4 (a) Notice of a general meeting shall specify the place, the day and the hour of meeting, and, in case of special business, the general nature of that business. (b) Fourteen (14) clear days notice of general meetings shall be given, and notice shall be deemed sufficiently given if sent by ordinary mail to the principal and athletic director of each member school, or by school mail if delivery is fourteen (14) days before the meeting. (c) Special general meetings may be called within fourteen (14) days of the receipt by the directors of the written request by one (1) or more members from any four (4) member schools, provided such request is accompanied by reasons and is countersigned by the principals of such schools. (d) The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of a notice by, any of the members entitled to receive notice does not invalidate proceedings at that meeting. ARTICLE D: PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS 4.1 Special business is: (a) all business at an extraordinary general meeting except the adoption of rules of order, and (b) all business that is transacted at an Annual General Meeting, except, (i) adoption of the rules of order, (ii) consideration of the financial statements (iii) report of the directors, (iv) report of the auditor, if any, (v) election of directors, (vi) appointment of the auditor, if required, and (vii) other business as, under these by-laws, ought to be transacted at an Annual General Meeting, or business which is brought under consideration by the report of the directors issued with the notice convening the meeting. 4.2 (a) No business, other than the election of a chairman and the adjournment or termination of the meeting, shall be conducted at a general meeting at a time when a quorum is not present. (b) If at any time during a general meeting there ceases to be a quorum present, business then in progress shall be suspended until there is a quorum present or until the meeting is adjourned or terminated. (c) The quorum at any general meeting shall be one (1) voting member from ninety percent (90%) of the member schools, but not less than three persons or such greater number as the members may determine at a general meeting. 66 4.3 If within 30 minutes from the time appointed for a general meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of members, shall be terminated; but in any other case, it it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week, at the same time and place or at a time and place specified at the meeting not exceeding two (2) weeks and if, at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within 30 minutes from the time appointed for the meeting, the members present constitute a quorum. 4.4 Subject to By-Law 4.5, the president of the Society, the vice-president, or in the absence of both, one of the other directors present shall preside as chairman of a general meeting. 4.5 If at a general meeting, (a) there is no president, vice president or other director present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or (b) the president and all the other directors present are unwilling to act as chairman, the members present shall choose one of their number to be chairman. 4.6 (a) A general meeting may be adjourned from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place; (b) Where a meeting is adjourned for ten (10) days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of the original meeting. (c) Except as provided in this by-law, it is not necessary to give notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned general meeting. 4.7 (a) All resolutions proposed at a meeting must be seconded and the chairman of a meeting may move or propose a resolution. (b) In case of an equality of votes, the chairman shall not have a casting or second vote in addition to the vote to which he may be entitled as a member and the proposed resolution shall not pass. 4.8 (a) Member schools may not vote at a meeting of members. (b) No more than three members teaching at the same member school may vote at a meeting of members, and the Athletics Department and Administration of each member school shall designate said three members (and in any case one administrator and two teachers (who are not administrators)) for the purposes of each meeting. (c) Voting is by show of voting cards. (d) Voting by proxy is not permitted. 67 ARTICLE E: DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS 5.1 (a) There shall be a Board of Governors, consisting of the principal of each member school, and the board shall act in an advisory capacity with the chair of the Board being the president of the Central Okanagan Schools Administrator’s Association (b) The Board of Governors shall appoint one administrator’s representative and one alternate to serve on the Board of Directors. 5.2 (a) The directors may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as the Society may exercise and do, and which are not by these by-laws or by statute or otherwise lawfully directed or required to be exercised or done by the Society in general meeting, but subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of (i) all laws affecting the Society, (ii) these by-laws and (iii) rules, not being inconsistent with these by-laws, which are made from time to time by the Society in a general meeting. (b) No rule, made by the Society, in a general meeting, invalidates a prior act of the Directors that would have been valid if that rule had not been made. (c) The board of directors shall interpret this constitution and by-laws and shall make such rules absolute discretion to facilitate the functioning of the society and such rules and regulations are binding. 5.3 (a) The President, Past President, Vice-President, Athletic Director’s Representative, and Administrators’ Association Representative shall be the Directors of the Society. (b) The number of directors shall be six (6) or such greater number as may be determined from time to time at a general meeting. 5.4 To be a director of the Association, the person must be a member teacher of the Association. 5.5 No director shall be entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Association unless designated as a voting member teacher as specified herein for the purposes of that meeting. 5.6 (a) The past president shall automatically be the person who last served as president. (b) The president, vice-president, and the athletic directors’ representative shall be elected at the annual General meeting of the association in June: (c) The directors shall appoint an administrative assistant who shall attend directors’ meetings but are not entitled to vote at such meetings. (d) One administrative representative shall be appointed by the Board of Governors. 5.7 (a) The directors shall retire from office at each Annual General Meeting when their successors shall be elected. (b) Separate elections shall be held for each office to be filled. 68 (c) An election may be by acclamation otherwise it shall be by ballot. (d) If no successor is elected, the person previously elected or appointed continues to hold office. 5.8 (a) the directors may at any time and from time to time appoint a member as a director to fill a vacancy in the directors. (b) A director so appointed holds office only until the conclusion of the next following Annual General Meeting of the Society, but is eligible for re-election at the meeting. 5.9 (a) If a director resigns their office or otherwise ceases to hold office, the remaining directors shall appoint a member to take the place of the former director. (b) No act or proceeding of the directors is invalid only by reason of there being less than the prescribed number of directors in office. 5.10 (a) A director shall cease to hold office in the event: (i) they resign (ii) they become medically or mentally incapacitated, or (iii) they cease to be a teacher in one of the member schools herein before described (b) Any member of the directors may be removed, and a successor may be elected to take their place by a vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting members present at any special general meeting of the Association called for that purpose, provided: (i) the notice of such meeting specifies the reason for the meeting, and the grounds upon which the removal of such member of the directors is sought; (ii) similar notice is given to the member of the directors whose removal is sought: (iii) the date of such meeting is not less than fourteen (14) days and not more than thirty (30) days after such notice is given: and (iv) the member of the directors whose removal is sought has the right to attend such meetings and to speak and present such arguments and evidence as they may wish before the special resolution is put to a vote. 5.11 No director shall be remunerated for being or acting as a director but a director may be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by them while engaged in the affairs of the Society. ARTICLE F: DUTIES AND POWERS OF DIRECTORS 6.1 (a) The directors may meet together at such places as they think fit for the dispatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings and proceedings as they see fit. (b) The directors may from time to time fix the quorum necessary for the transaction of business and unless so fixed the quorum shall be a majority of the directors then in office. (c) The president shall be chairperson of all meetings of the directors; but if at any meeting the president is not present within thirty (30) minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the vice-president shall act as chairman, but if neither is present, the directors present may choose one of their members to be chairman at that meeting. 69 (d) A director may at any time, and the secretary, on the request of a director, shall, convene a meeting of the directors. 6.2 (a) The directors may delegate any, but not all, of their powers to committees consisting of such member(s) or director(s) as they think fit. (b) A committee so formed in the exercise of the powers so delegated shall conform to any rules that may from time to time be imposed on it by the directors and shall report every act or thing done in exercise of those powers to the earliest meeting of the directors to be held next after it has been done. 6.3 A committee shall elect a chair of its meetings, but if no chair is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within thirty (30) minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the directors present who are members of the committee shall choose one of their members of the committee shall choose one of their members to be chair of the meeting. 6.4 The members of a committee may meet and adjourn as they think proper. 6.5 For a first meeting of the directors held immediately following the appointment or election of a director or directors at an annual or other general meeting or members, or for a meeting of the directors at which a director is appointed to fill a vacancy in the directors, it is not necessary to give notice of the meeting to the newly-elected or appointed director or directors for the meeting to be duly constituted, if a quorum of the directors is present. 6.6 (a) Questions arising at any meeting of the directors committee of directors shall be decided by a majority of votes. (b) In case of an equality of votes the chair does not have a second or casting vote. 6.7 All resolutions proposed at a meeting of directors or committee of directors must be seconded and the chair of a meeting may move or propose a resolution. 6.8 A resolution in writing, signed by all the directors and placed with the minutes of the directors is as valid and effective as if regularly passed at a meeting of directors. ARTICLE G: DUTIES OF OFFICERS 7.1 Immediate Past President The immediate past president shall assist the president and vice-president in their duties and shall provide advice and counsel to the Executive. The past president shall: (a) be responsible for the annual revision and publication of the OCSAA Constitution, by-laws, rules and regulations. (b) be responsible for purchasing and distributing pennants for all OCSAA Championship teams. (c) Locate and co-ordinate the rotation of trophies for each OCSAA Championship team. 70 (d) Co-ordinate the nominating committee which shall assist in obtaining suitable persons to be candidates for the position of president. 7.2 President The president shall be presiding officer of the Association, shall be the chair of the directors, and shall preside at all directors’, general and special meetings of the Association. He or she shall also be a member, ex-officio, of all committees appointed by the directors or by the Association. He or she shall submit a report of all Association activities to the OVSAA president as per the OVSAA Constitution. The president shall prepare and present reports on the activities of the Association at the Annual General Meeting. He or she shall arrange for association referees clinics in consultation with sports commissioners. The president shall also perform the duties of the Treasurer: (a) keep such financial records, including books of account, as are necessary to comply with the Society Act, and (b) render financial statements to the directors, members, and others when required. 7.3 The 1st Vice-president shall carry out the duties of the president during his or her absence. The vice-president shall prepare the booklet for the Annual General Meeting. 7.4 The Administrative Assistant shall: (a) conduct the correspondence of the society; (b) issue notices of meeting of the society and directors; (c) keep minutes of all meetings of the Society and directors; (d) have custody of all records and documents of the Society except those required to be kept by the treasurer; (e) have custody of the common seal of the Society (f) maintain the register of members. (g) establish and maintain seasonal schedule for all leagues. (h) keep record of fines and situations in which they occurred 7.5 In the absence of the secretary from a meeting, the directors shall appoint another person to act as secretary at the meeting. 7.6 Athletic Directors’ Representative The athletic directors’ representative shall be the chairman of the Athletic Directors’ Association and shall represent the point of view of the athletic directors’ of member schools. 7.7 Administrators’ Representative (and alternate) The administrators’ representative shall represent the point of view of the Secondary Administrative Association, and report regularly to the Board of Governors. 7.8 Middle School Representative The Middle School Representative shall represent the point of view of the Middle School members of the Association. 71 ARTICLE H: SEAL 8.1 The directors may provide a common seal for the Society and they shall have power from time to to time to destroy it and substitute a new seal in place of the seal destroyed. 8.2 The common seal shall be affixed only when authorized by a resolution of the directors and then only in the presence of the persons prescribed in the resolution or if no persons are prescribed, in the presence of the president and secretary or president and secretary-treasurer. ARTICLE I: BORROWING 9.1 The Society shall have no power to borrow. ARTICLE J: NOTICES TO MEMBERS 10.1 A notice may be given to a member, either personally or by mail to them at their registered address. 10.2 A notice sent by mail shall be deemed to have been given on the second day following that on which the notice is posted, and in proving that notice has been given it is sufficient to prove that the notice was properly addressed and put in a Canadian post office receptacle. 10.3 (a) Notice of a general meeting shall be given to every member shown on the register of members on the day notice is given. (b) No other person is entitled to receive a notice of general meeting. ARTICLE K: BY -LAWS 11.1 On being admitted to membership, a member is entitled to and the Society shall give them, without charge, a copy of the constitution and by-Laws and Rules and Regulations of the society currently in force. 11.2 These by-laws shall not be altered or added to except by special resolution. a special resolution means a resolution passed in general meeting by a majority of not less than 75% of the votes of those members of a Society who, being entitled to do so, vote in person. (a) of which the notice that the by-laws provide and not being less than fourteen (14) days notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been given; or (b) if every member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting so agrees at a meeting of which less than fourteen (14) days notice has been given. 72