Over 30 Softball League

Women´s Over 30 Softball League
Constitution and Bylaws

Article I - Name

The name of this body shall be the "Women´s Over 30 Softball League" (herein after referred to as "League").

Article II - Nature and Function

The League consists of teams of women, aged 30 and above, who seek camaraderie, fellowship and friendly competition through slow-pitch summer softball.

The functions of the League Manager´s Board are:

To offer opportunity and structure for camaraderie, fellowship and friendly competition through slow-pitch summer softball.
To establish and maintain communication and understanding of issues both within the League and in its relationship to outside bodies, such as other softball leagues.
To review the effectiveness of, and recommend improvements to, the policies and procedures of the League.

Article III - Membership

Membership
1. The League shall consist of teams of women, age 30 and over, who seek camaraderie, fellowship and friendly competition through slow-pitch summer softball.
2. Teams wishing to join the League for an upcoming season shall contact the Commissioner, who shall consult with the managers before approving the new team. New teams shall be admitted on a probationary basis, with the terms of probation to be established by a majority of the existing membership of the League.
3. Each member team of the League shall select, through their own procedures, a manager to represent the team on the Manager´s Board.
4. Conduct of members
  1. Each member, team and manager of the League is expected to conduct him/herself in the highest sprit of welcoming Christian fellowship, sportsmanship and fair play.
  2. Managers of the League are expected to conduct themselves as representatives of their team and of the League, acting as advocates for their team and stewards of the League.
Removal of members
1. At any regular or special meeting of the League, any one or more teams of the League may be removed for cause by a vote of a majority of the total voting membership of the League. Examples of cause include, but are not limited to, unsportsmanlike conduct or repeated violations of League rules or policy. This vote shall be by secret ballot. The removed teams(s) shall be notified of the decision in writing.
2. At any regular or special meeting of the League, any one or more teams of the League may be removed for any reason by a vote of a three-fourths (3/4) of the total voting membership of the League. This vote shall be by secret ballot. The removed teams(s) shall be notified of the decision in writing.
3. Any member team who has been removed and who wishes to appeal must do so in writing to the League prior to the next regular scheduled meeting.
4. Member teams may voluntarily leave the League only at the conclusion of the season. Teams that violate this provision forfeit any league moneys paid.

Article IV - Officers

The officers of the League shall consist of Commissioner, Vice-Commissioner, Secretary and Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected annually by the League at its fall managers meeting.
Any member of the League is eligible to be an officer. Only members who have been affiliated with the League for at least one year are eligible to be Commissioner.
Other duties may be assigned as needed, such as, but not limited to, schedule coordinator and web site administrator.
Duties of the officers shall be as follows:
1. The Commissioner shall establish and distribute meeting agendas, preside at all regular and special meetings of the League, and conduct, receive and dispose of all correspondence as directed and approved by the League. In addition, the Commissioner is the main point of contact to the League.
2. The Vice-Commissioner shall perform all the duties of the Commissioner when (s)he is absent or unable to act, and shall record and distribute minutes in the absence of the Secretary.
3. The Secretary shall maintain a written record of all acts of the League, record and distribute the minutes of all regular and special meetings.
4. The Treasurer shall maintain financial records of the League, collect fees and disburse prize money as necessary.

Article V - Meetings

The Manager´s Board of the League shall meet twice per year, in the spring before the season begins and in the fall after the season ends. Special or emergency meetings may be called by the Commissioner as needed. Notice of all regular or special meetings shall be given to all team managers, at least two weeks prior to the meeting date. Notice of any emergency meetings shall be given to all team managers, at least 48 hours before the date and time of the emergency meeting.
Team managers, or designees, must attend all League meetings. No team manager or their designee may miss more than one regular meeting per year. Missing two meetings is grounds for removal of the team from membership in the League, as provided in III.B.1 above.
All official business shall be transacted at regular League meetings, or at duly noticed special League meetings. A quorum, defined as the majority of the membership plus one, must be present to transact official business. The Commissioner, or his/her designee, must be present for the transaction of all official business.
A simple majority of those present and voting shall carry a motion unless otherwise specified in this Constitution. Each member team shall have one vote on any motion.
The rules of parliamentary procedure shall govern meetings of the League (see Appendix). Meetings shall be limited to ninety (90) minutes from the official Call to Order. The League may extend the meeting if approved by a simple majority of the members present.

Article VI - Amendments and Rules

Articles I and II may be amended by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the total membership.
Proposed amendments must be distributed to all of the managers of teams in the League at least two (2) weeks prior to voting on such.
The Over Thirty Softball League Rules (Last revised in April 2008, or as they may be subsequently amended), are hereby adopted as the official rules of this League.
Articles III through VI, all appendices, and the Over Thirty Softball League Rules may be amended by a vote of a majority of the members present at any regular meeting, providing that there is a quorum present and providing that the proposed amendment(s) had been presented at a previously noticed regular meeting of the Manager's Board.

Adopted: November 09, 2009

Appendix
A Brief Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure

Distilled from Robert's Rules of Order Revised (H.M. Robert, 1915) and SLIDE-A-RULE for Committees, Meetings and Chairmen (M.H. Duncan, 1973).

ORDER OF BUSINESS - adapted to the Women´s Over 30 Softball League

Call to Order
Roll Call.
Review of Minutes (corrections and approval). Beside usual facts, minutes contain all Main Motions and their disposal, Points of Order and Appeals and whether sustained or lost, all other motions not lost or withdrawn. Corrections are made when called for. Upon dispute, corrections are put to majority vote. The Committee may correct unnoticed errors at any time, without regard to time lapse, with 2/3 vote.
Reports of standing committees. Questions are directed through the Chair. A report receives "no action" unless it ends with a resolution or motion "to adopt," in which case the Chair immediately puts it to a vote, or by General Consent, refers it to New Business.
Correspondence. Read here, but acted upon under New Business.
Unfinished Business. Includes, from the last meeting, items interrupted by adjournment or matters postponed to this meeting, motions to be "taken from the table," or motions "to reconsider, enter on minutes" may be "taken up."
New Business. All motions or resolutions from the floor or from committees that require the action of the Committee.
Good and Welfare.
Adjournment - Three methods: 1) by the Chair "Is there any further business? If not, the meeting is adjourned." 2) by Motion (as privilege or as Main) by member "I move we adjourn." or 3) by Time "The by-laws state adjournment by 8:30 P.M. If there are no objections, we shall adjourn."

RULES GOVERNING THE FLOOR

Address the Chair, "Mr. (or Madam) Chair" or by name or by raising hands.
Be recognized by name by the Chair, thereby gaining the Floor. Members who address the Chair while another Member has the Floor will not be recognized. Members who have gained the Floor may state Motions or Resolutions, may second Motions or may engage in Debate.
During Debate, (1) each member may speak once on a Question, for a length of time set (if not set by the Assembly, the time limit is 10 minutes), (2) a Member may speak a second time only if all have spoken who care to, (3) a Member may speak a third time only with the Assembly's consent. The moving Member is entitled to close debate with a speech, but not until everyone wishing to speak has spoken and providing that (s)he has not exceeded his/her time limit and that debate is still open. Debate must be limited to the merits of the immediately pending question. Members must address their remarks to the Chair, be courteous in their language and deportment and avoid all personalities, never alluding to the Officers or other Members by name, where possible to avoid it, nor to the motives of Members.

RULES ON MOTIONS

The Chair rules obstructive, absurd or delaying motions Out of Order.
Only one Main Motion can be immediately before the Assembly, stated clearly, and if lengthy, in writing. In order not to confuse the vote, state motions in the affirmative, such as "I move we reject the offer" NOT "I move we do not accept the offer."
If a Main Motion contains two separate ideas, a Member may "Call for a Division of the Question" so each proposal may be considered and voted on separately.
Only the Motion of highest rank is given immediate consideration. Votes are taken in reverse order to the sequence in which they were proposed, or are pending.
Seconding a motion means "I think this issue should be discussed now" but does not obligate one to vote for the proposal.
Amendments must be germane and directly related to the subject contained in the motion to which they adhere.
If a Member wishes to close debate, (s)he must use the motion named "Previous Question," as the Chair cannot cut off debate.
When Debate is closed, the Motion on the Floor must be voted upon and the result announced by the Chair.

VOTING
Methods: Voice ("Aye" or "No"), Show of Hands, Rising (used for Division of Assembly), Ballot, Roll Call, General Consent. General Consent is used as an expedient to business without a formal vote when the Chair believes the majority would agree. Those remaining silent are assumed to agree. Those opposed should simply say "I object." The Chair then must immediately put the matter to vote. Examples: Chair says "If there is no objection, this resolution will be acted upon under New Business" or "If there is no objection, we interrupt business for an important announcement."

Counting: (assuming that a quorum is present) Majority vote - more than ½ the votes cast by Members present and voting; Two-Thirds Vote - 2/3 or more of the votes cast (need to be counted); Tie Vote - same as if lost.

DUTIES OF THE CHAIR

The duties of the Chair include opening the meeting and calling the Members to order, to announce the business before the Assembly in the order in which it is to be acted upon, to recognize Members entitled to the Floor, to state and put to a vote all questions regularly moved, to announce the results of votes, to protect the Assembly from frivolous motions by refusing to recognize them, to assist in expediting the business of the Assembly while protecting the rights of the Members, to restrain the Members when engaged in Debate while protecting the rights of the Members, to enforce order and decorum among the Members, to decide all questions of order unless submitted to the Assembly and to inform the Assembly on Points of Order.

While the Chair cannot take an active role in Debate without a vote of the Assembly for a temporary replacement, the chair is allowed to question those making motions as to their motives and may comment upon motions before stating them to the Assembly. The Chair has the right to require that all motions, resolutions, amendments and/or instructions to committees be in writing.

TYPES OF MOTIONS. Privileged and subsidiary motions are listed in order of rank. Only higher ranking motions can be considered before the current pending motion:

PRIVILEGED MOTIONS. Of such importance that they outrank all others.

ADJOURN. "I move we Adjourn [until (time) and (place)]." Terminates meeting or session, may state time and place of next meeting if not provided for. Cannot interrupt person in debate unless sufficiently urgent, second required, not debatable, can amend only next time and place, majority vote required, can reconsider vote only on time and place.
RECESS. "I move we Recess for (time) to (purpose)." Intermission for meals, counting ballots, etc. Recess begins immediately. Business resumes at same point. Cannot interrupt person in debate unless sufficiently urgent, second required, not debatable, can amend only time and purpose, majority vote required, cannot reconsider vote.
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. "I rise to a Question of Privilege (state question)." Relates to member's or assembly's comfort, disturbance, conduct, etc. Business resumes as soon as the matter is cared for. Cannot interrupt person in debate unless sufficiently urgent, second not required, not debatable, cannot amend, presiding officer decides as requested, cannot reconsider vote.
ORDERS OF THE DAY. "I call for the Orders of the Day." Demands conforming to the announced order of business, in order whenever deviations are noticed. A 2/3 negative vote prevents proceeding to the Orders of the Day. Can interrupt person in debate if urgent, second not required, not debatable, cannot amend, presiding officer decides as requested, cannot reconsider vote.

SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS. Change in some way or affect the disposition of the Main Motion.

LAY ON THE TABLE. "I move the Question be Laid On the Table." If carried, the Main Motion and those pending to it are laid aside for more pressing business until later in the meeting, or at the next one. Cannot interrupt person in debate, second required, not debatable, cannot amend, majority vote required, cannot reconsider vote.
PREVIOUS QUESTION/LIMIT DEBATE. "I call for the Previous Question" or "I move to Limit Debate to (length of time)" or "I move that Debate be stopped at (time)." Applies only to immediate Motion, unless "all Motions" is specified. If Previous Question carries, Debate stops at once for voting. Cannot interrupt person in debate, second required, not debatable, can amend only length or time, 2/3 vote required, can reconsider vote only on length and time.
POSTPONEMENT. "I move that the Question be Postponed until ---." Delays action until next meeting, a special time (can be made Special Order, requiring 2/3 vote) or after a certain event. Cannot interrupt person in debate, second required, debatable, can amend, majority vote required, can reconsider vote.
REFER TO COMMITTEE. "I move that the matter be Referred to a Committee." May further state committee number to be appointed or elected with "instruction to" investigate, recommend or take action. Cannot interrupt person in debate, second required, debatable, can amend, majority vote required, can reconsider vote unless committee has begun consideration.
AMENDMENT. "I move to Amend the Motion by ---." or "I move to Amend the Amendment by --." Ways to amend: insert or add at end, strike out words, strike out and insert, substitute paragraphs. Cannot interrupt person in debate, second required, debatable only if motion/amendment is debatable, can amend only if can amend motion, majority vote required, can reconsider vote.
INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT. "I move that the matter be Postponed Indefinitely." If carried, Main Motion is killed for that meeting. Used to test strength of opposition. If lost, Main Motion is again Open to Debate. Cannot interrupt person in debate, second required, debatable, cannot amend, majority vote required, can reconsider vote only if carried.

MAIN MOTION. "I Move that ---" "I Second the Motion." Introduces business or states a proposal for action. Has floor when no motion is pending. Cannot interrupt person in debate, second required or motion is lost, debatable, can amend, majority vote required, can reconsider vote.

INCIDENTAL MOTIONS concern matters of procedure arising out of business and must be settled at once. All incidental motions have equal rank.

POINT OF ORDER. "I rise to a Point of Order. (state point)" Must be used at the time when a breach of rules or decorum occurs. Is in order any time bylaws, etc. are believed to have been violated. Can interrupt person in debate, no second required, not debatable, cannot amend, presiding officer decides as requested, cannot reconsider decision.
APPEAL DECISION OF THE CHAIR. "I appeal from the Decision of the Chair. (state appeal)" Used when it is thought that the Chair has made a wrong decision. Must be made immediately after the decision and is settled by vote. Can interrupt person in debate, second required, debatable, cannot amend, majority vote required, can reconsider vote.
SUSPENSION OF RULES. "I move to Suspend the Rules in order to/that ---." Temporarily waives parliamentary rules of order for the specific purpose stated. Cannot interrupt person in debate, second required, not debatable, cannot amend, 2/3 vote required, cannot reconsider vote.
OBJECT TO CONSIDERATION. "I Object to the Consideration of this motion." Used to avoid consideration of embarrassing, irrelevant or contentious motions. Must be made before any debate. Can interrupt person in debate, no second required, not debatable, cannot amend, 2/3 negative vote required to kill motion, cannot reconsider affirmative vote.
DIVISION OF ASSEMBLY. "I call for a Division of the Assembly." Verifies by rising vote a vote taken by hand or voice. If abused to Assembly's annoyance, can be ruled out of order by Chair. Can interrupt person in debate, no second required, not debatable, cannot amend, presiding officer decides as requested, cannot reconsider decision.
INQUIRY/INFORMATION/WITHDRAW. "I rise to a Parliamentary Inquiry. (state inquiry)" or "I rise for Information. (state question)" or "I request to Withdraw my Motion." Inquiries and requests are addressed to the Chair. The member can make a withdrawal before the Motion is stated or with general consent before the Main Motion is taken up. Inquiries and requests can interrupt person in debate, but withdrawals cannot; no second required; not debatable; cannot amend; presiding officer decides as requested for inquiries and requests, general consent decides withdrawals; cannot reconsider inquiries or requests, cannot reconsider affirmative withdrawal.

UNCLASSIFIED MOTIONS. These have the same rank as motion to which they are attached.

TAKE FROM TABLE. "I move to Take From the Table the Motion that ---." Picks up for consideration a Motion which was tabled. May be used after some other business has intervened, but no later than the next meeting. Cannot interrupt person in debate, second required, not debatable, cannot amend, majority vote required, cannot reconsider vote.
RECONSIDER THE VOTE. "I voted with the prevailing side of the Motion which (repeat motion), and move to reconsider the vote (or reconsider and have it entered on the minutes)." May reconsider when no business is pending (has Floor at once), business is pending (gains Floor next) or entered on minutes (taken up at next meeting). Cannot interrupt person in debate, second required, debatable only when reconsidered motion is debatable, cannot amend, majority vote required, cannot reconsider vote.

Women´s Over 30 Softball League Constitution and Bylaws

Appendix A Brief Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure

Women´s Over 30 Softball League
Constitution and Bylaws

Appendix
A Brief Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure