ARTICLE 1 - Name
Section 1: The name of this organization shall be "District 17 ACBL Association," hereinafter referred to as "the District."Section 2: The name "American Contract Bridge League" (ACBL) hereinafter shall be referred to in these By-Laws as "the League."
Section 1: The jurisdictional area of the District shall be that area defined by the League as District 17.
Section 1: The object and purpose of the District shall be:
- To cooperate with and assist the League in the promotion and conduct of duplicate bridge tournaments, and to perform such other functions as may be delegated by the League.
- To promote the highest standards of conduct and ethics for participation in tournaments.
- To seek concerted action on all matters affecting the District by consultation with and recommendations to the District Representative and the National Board of Directors of the League.
- To conduct the Regional tournaments allocated to the District, deciding where and when they shall be held.
- To assist the Units of the League within the area of the District in scheduling and promotion of Sectional tournaments.
Section 1: Additional Units shall be accorded membership or existing Units removed from membership when, as and if the boundaries of the District are redefined by the League.Section 2: Units may be merged into neighboring member Units when, in the opinion of the District Board of Directors, and with the approval of the League, such Units fail to perform their required functions or when such mergers would benefit or promote League activities.
Section 1: The business, affairs, and property of the District shall be conducted and controlled in all respects by the District Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as "the Board."Section 2: The Board shall consist of fourteen representatives or members chosen by the member Units in a manner hereinafter described, plus the District Representative to the National Board of Directors of the League, but in no case shall any Board member be an owner or operator of a bridge club, or receive remuneration on a regular basis from the League.
Section 3: The Board, at its first meeting in each calendar year, subsequent to the seating of members newly elected to the Board, shall elect from among its members officers for the ensuing year. Nominations for officers shall be made from the floor; voting shall be by ballot and majority vote shall elect.
Section 4: The Board may create such standing or special committees as are deemed necessary to promote the objectives of this organization, and delegate to them any of the powers and authority of the Board. Standing committees shall include: (1a) Judiciary Committee - Original Jurisdiction; (1b) Judiciary Committee - Appellate; (2) Unit Affiliations Committee; (3) Executive Committee; (4) Tournament Coordinating Committee; and (5) SCORECARD Committee. The Judiciary Committees shall not have any members in common. Actions of the Judiciary Committees shall become effective at the time fixed by each Committee or its chairperson, and shall be reported to the Board of Directors for the Board's information. Actions of the Unit Affiliations Committee must be approved by the Board before they become effective.
Section 5: The Executive Committee shall consist of a minimum of four Board members plus the President, whose duties shall be to conduct Regional tournaments allocated to the District according to guidelines of the Board, to make such decisions as the President judges must be made between regularly scheduled Board meetings, to recommend to the Directors sites for future Regionals to be held during a particular year, and to perform such other duties as may be directed by the Board.
Section 1: The procedure for Board elections shall be as hereinafter described.Section 2: The Election Secretary shall:
- During August of each year request in writing that each eligible member Unit submit the name of a qualified League member residing within the District area in which the Unit is located, as a nominee for election to the Board for the ensuing two years. The Election Secretary shall notify each such Unit whether it's incumbent Board Representative is seeking reelection. Nominations are to be submitted no later than 30 September. Nominations postmarked after that date will be invalid. If the name of only one nominee is submitted for an area, mailing of ballots shall be dispensed with and such nominee shall be declared elected.
- Upon receipt of the nominations, prepare a ballot for submission during October to each eligible member Unit, listing the nominees for election from its area, and requesting that the Unit vote be recorded exactly as cast by its Board of Directors. Ballots are to be returned no later than 30 November; ballots postmarked after that date shall be invalid.
- Each nominee shall be promptly notified of the other nominees from his/her area.
- Election shall be by a majority vote. When a candidate does not receive better than 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held between the first and second place contenders.
- Runoffs shall be held prior to 25 December.
- In the event a runoff results in a tie, the tie will be broken by the Election Secretary via the flip of a coin done in the presence of an officer of the Election Secretary's home Unit, who will affix his or her signature to documentation confirming the result.
- During August of each year, cause to be published in the District 17 Scorecard notice of the upcoming Board elections and a summary of the relevant election procedures.
Section 3:
Section 4:
- Each member Unit shall be entitled to one vote for each 100 members or major fraction thereof of the Unit membership, but in no case less than one vote. The actual vote for each candidate will be apportioned by the formula ratio:
Number of votes for a candidate divided by the number of Board members voting times votes entitled a Unit equals the actual vote. - Where a Board member is elected by a single Unit (Albuquerque, Denver, El Paso, Las Vegas, Mesa, Phoenix and Tucson), election shall be by a majority vote of the Unit Board of Directors.
Section 5: For the purposes of representation on the Board, the District shall consist of six separate areas defined as follows:
- The Election Secretary shall bring any election irregularities to the attention of the President and the Executive Committee. If the Executive Committee determines that a newly elected member was not elected substantially in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article, the President shall notify the newly elected member and the Unit(s) involved of the irregularity and advise them that the Board of Directors may determine not to certify the election.
- At the next meeting of the Board, the Election Secretary shall present the election report for Board certification. The President previously shall have notified the newly elected members that they may attend the meeting.
- If the Board of Directors, by a two-thirds vote, determines not to certify a newly elected member because he/she was not elected substantially in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article, or for other good cause, the Election Secretary shall notify the Units involved and an election to fill the unexpired term shall be held as set forth in this Article, with the deadlines for nominee/ballot returns to be determined by the Election Secretary.
Area 1: The state of Arizona
Area 2: The state of Colorado
Area 3: That part of Southern Nevada covered by Unit #373
Area 4: The state of New Mexico
Area 5: That part of Western Texas covered by Unit #159
Area 6: That part of Wyoming covered by Units #421 and #422 Section 6: Representation from each area shall be as follows:
Area 1: Shall elect five members to the Board; one member to be from and elected by Mesa Unit #351, two members to be from and elected by Phoenix Unit #354, one member to be from and elected by Tucson Unit #356, and one member to be from and elected by the remaining Units in area 1, excluding Units #351, #354 and #356.
Area 2: Shall elect four members to the Board; two members to be from and elected by Denver Unit #361, and the other members, not from the same Unit, to be from and elected by the remaining Units in area 2, excluding Unit #361.
Area 3: Shall elect one member to the Board.
Area 4: Shall elect two members to the Board; one member to be from and elected by Albuquerque Unit #374, and the other member to be from and elected by the remaining Units in area 4, excluding Unit #374.
Area 5: Shall elect one member to the Board.
Area 6: Shall elect one member to the Board. Section 7: Election to the Board shall be for a term of two years; such term to commence at the first Board meeting of the calendar year following the election. Areas that are entitled to more than one member on the Board shall elect one-half of the total each year to maintain continuity.
Section 8: If at any time the Board of Directors determines that a member of the Board cannot serve the balance of his/her term due to illness, change of residence from his/her area, resignation or other cause, the Election Secretary shall notify the eligible Unit(s) involved and an election to fill the unexpired term shall be held as set forth in Sections 2 and 3 preceding, with the deadline for nominee/ballot returns determined by the Election Secretary. If a Board member moves from his/her area, it is deemed a vacancy has been created.
Section 9: At least every fifth year, the Board shall review the League's membership totals in the six areas of the District for the purpose of determining if a change should be made in the distribution of members of the Board among the different areas to maintain fair numerical representation.
Section 1: A regular meeting of the Board may be held at every District Regional tournament or North American Bridge Championship held in the District; when, in the opinion of the President, it is desirable to do so but, in any event, there shall be at least three meetings within each year. Notice of each meeting shall be made in writing by the President to each member of the Board at least thirty (30) days prior to each meeting.Section 2: The President, or any six members of the Board, may call a special meeting of the Board by giving not less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) days' notice in writing to each member of the Board, stating the time and place of such special meeting, together with an agenda of the business to be considered.
Section 3: A quorum for the transaction of business at any Board meeting shall be eight members. A majority vote of those members present and voting shall be necessary to enact a resolution.
Section 4: All meetings of the Board shall be held within the area of the District.
Section 5: Board members may not appoint alternates or proxies.
Section 6: Issues or problems arising between Board meetings that the President feels require immediate action and are not within the jurisdiction of the Executive Committee shall be handled as follows:
The President shall formulate a proposed solution and poll each Board member by telephone or mail, or conduct the necessary interim business of the District which the President feels does not require action of the entire Board.Section 7: Except when the District Board votes to meet in executive session, Board meetings are open and visitors are welcome. Unless requested by the President, non-Board members are not allowed to speak or involve themselves in Board discussions.Section 8: Any Board member absent from three or more meetings during a two year term may be subject to removal by the District Board of Directors.
Section 1: The elected officers of this organization shall be a President, a Vice President, a Recording Secretary, an Election Secretary and a Treasurer. Officers shall hold office for one year, or until their successors are elected. The terms of the officers shall commence upon their election.Section 2: Duties of officers:
Section 3: Any vacancy occurring in an office shall be filled by election at the next regular or special meeting of the Board.
- The President shall preside at all Board meetings. Upon election each year, the President shall appoint the standing committees prescribed in Article V, Section 4 of these By-Laws, and any other existing committees; which appointments shall serve in a temporary capacity until approved by the Board at the next Board meeting. The President shall be a member ex-officio of all committees.
- The Vice President shall preside in the absense or inability of the President to serve, and shall perform such other duties as shall be assigned by the President.
- The Recording Secretary shall keep an accurate account of the proceedings of all meetings of the Board, maintain a record of the By-Laws with all amendments and revisions, and conduct such correspondence as shall be assigned by the President.
- The Election Secretary shall conduct annual elections to the Board.
- The Treasurer shall receive all monies due the District, and shall deposit same in such bank or banks as shall be approved by the Board. He/she shall keep proper books of account, prepare periodic financial statements of condition at least once a year, and shall disburse District funds as required.
- The Treasurer shall disburse incidental expenses incurred by Board members and/or committee members performing their duties in accordance with these By-Laws.
Section 1: The rules contained in "Robert's Rules of Order, Revised" shall govern this organization in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with these By-Laws or the special rules of order in this organization.
Section 1: The Board of Directors may, at any time, consider charges against one of its members. Upon an affirmative vote of three-fourths of all Directors for the purpose of such consideration, the President shall appoint a committee to investigate such charges. Such committee shall report to the Board at its next regular or special meeting and the Board, after consideration thereof, may, by three-fourths vote, censure, publicly reprimand, expel or otherwise discipline such member. In the event of expulsion, the procedure set forth in Article 11-H of the ACBL By-Laws shall apply.
Section 1: These By-Laws may be amended at any meeting of the Board by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, provided the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular Board meeting, or has been made a part of the agenda of the meeting and has been submitted in writing to each member of the Board at least thirty (30) days prior to such meeting.
Section 1: Consistent with ACBL rules and regulations, when a vacancy occurs in the office of District Representative to the National Board of the ACBL, and neither the first nor second alternate director is available to fill the vacancy, the District Board of Directors shall elect a District Representative by majority vote, to serve until the next scheduled election.