Jonesboro Adult Soccer Association Bylaws:
Article I. Name:
The name of this organization shall be the Jonesboro Adult Soccer Association and will be known hereinafter as the JASA.
Article II. Purpose:
The purpose of the JASA, a nonprofit organization, is to promote and grow adult recreational and competitive soccer programs in the Northeast Arkansas. All monies collected by the JASA will be used to fulfill the purpose previously stated. All positions in this organization are volunteer positions; there are no salaried positions.
Article III. Membership:
All players, coaches, and captains aged 18 years and over are eligible for membership in the JASA. Under no circumstances will a person or player who is under the age of 18 be permitted to play in an officially-sanctioned JASA game. All 18 year-old participants must be in their senior year and not currently in season with their high school teams.
Article IV. Officers
The JASA shall be governed by a Board of Directors, which consists of the Executive Board and At-Large Board members. All officers must be a player, coach, or captain with an active membership with JASA. The following Executive Officers will be elected for two (2) year terms in even-numbered years (i.e. 2022, 2024, 2026, etc.): President, Vice President, and Secretary. The following Executive Officers will be elected for two (2) year terms in odd-numbered years (i.e. 2021, 2023, 2025, etc.): Treasurer and Registrar. Executive Officers will be nominated prior to the Annual General Meeting and voted on at the AGM in May of each year. These five officers will constitute the Executive Board.
In addition, six (6) At-Large Board members shall be elected to assist the Executive Board and represent the interests of all JASA members. The At-Large Board members will be elected on a three-year rotational basis. At-Large Board positions A1 and A2 will be elected the following years: 2022, 2025, 2028, etc. At-Large Board positions B1 and B2 will be elected the following years: 2020, 2023, 2026, etc. At-Large Board positions C1 and C2 will be elected the following years: 2021, 2024, 2027, etc.
Any member of the Board of Directors shall be removed, for good cause shown, upon a 2/3 majority vote of the entire Board of Directors. A vote of this kind shall be done at a closed-door meeting, with the member in question having been given two (2) weeks prior notice as well as a comprehensive list of all grievances on which his or her removal is predicated. At this meeting, and before a vote of any kind, if the member in question requests it, a hearing will be conducted, chaired by the President, or, if the President is the subject of the proposed removal, then the Vice-President, pursuant to the procedures mandated at that time by the President (or Vice-President if the President is the subject of the removal motion). The vote will occur after the hearing, if one is held, and proxy votes or absentee votes shall not be allowed. For all purposes, to be applied to these Bylaws, a member of the Board of Directors is no longer in good standing if he or she misses three (3) consecutive, or four (4) out of five (5) consecutive regularly scheduled Board meetings, or if a member of the Board of Directors does not play in any two (2) consecutive regularly scheduled seasons. Any member of the Board of Directors not in good standing may be removed by motion and 2/3-majority vote.
Article V. Duties of the Officers
Section 1: President
The President is the sole spokesperson for the JASA, unless he or she delegates otherwise, and is responsible for guiding the JASA in all matters. He or she is also considered the Chief Executive Officer for any purpose. The President is elected by a majority of then-sitting members of the Board of Directors who are in good standing and who are present at the AGM, unless a proxy vote is allowed for good cause shown and with the majority consent of the Board of Directors. Only a then-sitting member of the Executive Board may be nominated, and voted on, for President The president has the following specific duties:
a. Maintenance of good ties with the Arkansas State Soccer Association, the Parks and Recreation Department from whom fields are rented, if any, and the Referee Association used by the JASA. This includes, but is not limited to, setting up and attending meetings necessary to the functioning of the JASA.
b. Entering into financial agreements on behalf of the JASA. This power is limited to those agreements directly related to the running of the JASA. Lines of credit are strictly prohibited and may not be entered into without the express permission of the full board as decided by majority vote. Examples of permissible agreements include field rental contracts and tournament agreements.
c. Oversight of day-to-day operations of the JASA. This includes, but is not limited to, regular communication with the other Board members to insure timely operation of the leagues.
d. Acting as a point of contact for new players, helping them get the information necessary for their entry into one of the leagues. This duty can be delegated to another Board member.
e. Performance of whatever legal duties deemed necessary to fulfill the mission of the JASA. This includes monitoring the performance of the other Board members and offering solutions (whether direct aid or suggestions) to problems faced in the execution of their duties.
f. The President is the guide for the JASA, and may facilitate this process by creating standing or temporary committees to address specific issues important to the operation of the leagues or the JASA. The president shall appoint Board members or other JASA team captains or players to those committees.
g. The President, acting as chair, shall call to order one Board of Directors meeting approximately once per month. The meetings shall follow Robert's Rules of Order.
h. The President may not serve more than two consecutive terms, unless reelected by motion and a 2/3 majority vote at a duly constituted meeting.
Section 2: Vice-President
The Vice-President is charged with assisting the President with day-to-day operations of the association and operates as his or her eyes and ears regarding league matters. He or she is also considered the Chief Operating Officer for any purpose. The Vice- President is elected by a majority of then-sitting members of the Board of Directors who are in good standing and who are present at the AGM, unless a proxy vote is allowed for good cause shown and with the majority consent of the Board of Directors. Only a then- sitting member of the Board of Directors may be nominated, and voted on, for Vice-President. The vice-president has the following specific duties:
a. The Vice-President may stand in for the President if the President is unable to attend a meeting, and may sign contractual agreements on behalf of the Association with the express permission of the President
b. The vice-president shall call to order meetings when the president cannot be present.
c. The Vice-President shall be the main contact between JASA and the organization from which the league is renting fields. He or she will coordinate the procurement of said fields for league play.
d. The Vice-President shall assist the President with suggestions for individuals to chair and make up the committees listed in Article VI.
e. The Vice-President may not serve more than two consecutive terms unless reelected by motion and a 2/3 majority vote at a duly constituted meeting..
f. The Vice-President, acting as chair, shall call to order the Judicial and Disciplinary Committee as stated in the Judicial Operations Manual when the need arises.
Section 3: Treasurer
It is recommended that the Treasurer possess knowledge in banking processes and maintain a current accounting of the JASAs debits and credits which shall be presented at each JASA meeting. The Treasurer shall disburse and deposit funds to and from any JASA accounts in accordance with the directions provided by the Executive Board on a case-by-case basis. Disbursements larger than $200.00 automatically require the approval of a majority of the Executive Board. He or she is also considered the Chief Financial Officer for any purpose. The Treasurer is elected by a majority of then-sitting members of the Board of Directors who are in good standing and who are present at the AGM, unless a proxy vote is allowed for good cause shown and with the majority consent of the Board of Directors. Any of JASAs membership is eligible to be nominated, and voted on, for Treasurer, although it is recommended and highly preferable that the Treasurer first have served in some capacity on JASAs Board of Directors, given that the Treasurer essentially holds the associations purse-strings.
Section 4: Secretary
The Secretary shall keep accurate notes of each meeting and read the minutes from the previous meeting at the beginning of each minute. This requirement can be waived by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall post the minutes on the league website no longer than two weeks after each JASA meeting. The Secretary is elected by a majority of then-sitting members of the Board of Directors who are in good standing and who are present at the AGM. Any of JASAs membership is eligible to be nominated, and voted on, for Secretary.
Section 5: Registrar
The Registrar is responsible for the ensuring individuals and team captains complete the proper registration of members with the JASA and the Arkansas State Soccer Association. The Registrar will provide team captains with assistance in completing this process. The Registrar also is charged with suggesting any proposed changes in the registration process that he or she believes will assist in its efficient operation. The Registrar is elected by a majority of then-sitting members of the Board of Directors who are in good standing and who are present at the AGM. Any of JASAs membership is eligible to be nominated, and voted on, for Registrar, although it is recommended and highly preferable that the Registrar first have served in some capacity on JASAs Board of Directors. Further, it is advisable that the Registrar have some computer knowledge.
Section 6: At-large Board Members
The At-Large Board members will represent the broad interests of the JASA membership. These Board members shall attend each meeting to assist the other officers in all decision-making processes of the organization. Any of JASAs membership is eligible to be nominated for, and voted on, any of the At-Large Board positions. Further, these positions are to be filled by a person earning a majority vote of the JASA members attending the AGM. Proxy votes from any person shall not be allowed for this purpose.
Article VI. Committees
Committees can be and are created and dissolved at the sole discretion of the President, with the exception of the Judicial and Disciplinary Committee and the Registration Committee, which exist under construction of these Bylaws and are self-evident.
Section 1: Judicial and Disciplinary Committee
The Judicial and Disciplinary Committee shall be chaired at all times by the Vice-President. In the event that the Vice-President feels, for whatever reason, that he or she should remove him/herself for a period of time or for a specific purpose, the Vice-President shall appoint a member of the Board of Directors to Chair the Committee. The Vice-President would assume the Chair when the reason for recusal has passed. At no time will the President ever serve on this Committee for any reason. This Committee shall be comprised of at least two members of the Board of Directors, appointed by the President. Additional positions on this Committee can be added as necessary, or subtracted as necessary, as long as there is a Chair and two members of the Board of Directors serving on the Committee at all times. Members of the general JASA population can be appointed by the President to fill out positions on this Committee. While all appointments are by the President, it is highly advisable that the suggestions of the Vice-President as to appointments be considered. This Committee will meet in the manner decided by, and at the discretion of, the Chair.
Section 2: Registration Committee
The Registration Committee shall be Chaired at all times by the Registrar. This Committee shall be comprised of the Treasurer and at least one members of the Board of Director, appointed by the President. Additional positions on this Committee can be added as necessary, or subtracted as necessary, as long as there is a Chair, the Treasurer, and one member of the Board of Directors serving on the Committee at all times. While all appointments are by the President, it is highly advisable that the suggestions of the Registrar as to appointments be considered. This Committee will meet in the manner decided by, and at the discretion of, the Chair with the annual tournament and any additional tournaments held by the JASA.
Article VII. Referees
The JASA shall use referees, which will enable the JASA to maintain a good working relationship with the local referee association and the referee associations membership. Referees overseeing JASA member games shall use FIFA-approved rules to govern such games while allowing for any modifications approved by the
JASA Executive Board. Any approved modifications must be communicated to the participating referees before the start of each season.
Article VIII. Amendments
These bylaws may be amended at any regularly scheduled meeting of the Full Board by a two-thirds vote. All amendments must be submitted in writing (email is acceptable) to the Full Board no less than one calendar week prior to the scheduled meeting at which the amendment will be introduced.