LONDON & DISTRICT YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE CONSTITUTION

1.0       NAME

1.1       The name of the organization shall be the London and District Youth Soccer League.

2.0       DEFINITIONS

2.1       Wherever the word "League" or “LDYSL” is used it shall mean the London and District Youth Soccer League.

2.2       Wherever the abbreviation “WOYSL” is used it shall mean the Western Ontario Youth Soccer League.

2.3       Wherever the word "Association" or the abbreviation “EMSA”, is used it shall mean the Elgin Middlesex Soccer Association.

2.4       Wherever the abbreviation “OSA” is used it shall mean the Ontario Soccer Association.

 3.0      OBJECTIVES

3.1       To organize competition for teams entered in the League in accordance with the OSA and EMSA Policies and Procedures.

4.0       ORGANIZATION

4.1       The League shall be composed of members as set out and shall be managed by a Board of Directors as stated in this Constitution.

4.2       The League shall be affiliated with EMSA as a District supervised league.

5.0       MEMBERSHIP

5.1       Any properly constituted club shall be eligible for membership.

5.2       A member remains in good standing providing:

(a) No monies are outstanding for a period longer than (30) thirty days after the due date.

            (b) The member fulfills its obligation to the League.

5.3       A new club may only be accepted to membership in the league at the Annual General Meeting or at a Regular or Special General Meeting.  The LDYSL Board has the authority to accept late applications with a majority vote of the Board. 

6.0       MEETINGS

6.1       Annual General Meeting

a.         The Annual General Meeting (AGM) must be held on or before November 15 of each year.

b.         Clubs are required to have an accredited representative in attendance at the AGM. Clubs not represented at the AGM shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200.00). Club representatives wishing to leave before the end of the meeting must receive acknowledgement from the Chairperson. Club representatives that leave early without the acknowledgement of the Chairperson will be fined two hundred dollars ($200.00).

6.2        Regular General Meetings

a.         A Regular General Meeting (RGM) of the membership shall be held annually in January to discuss the upcoming season. The date, time, location and topics to be discussed will be set by the President.

b.         Additional Regular General Meetings may be called by the President with a minimum of one month’s notice. The proposed agenda will be forwarded to the membership with the call for the respective meeting.  Member clubs may request that additional topics be added to the agenda up to two weeks prior to the date of the meeting. Such requests must be in writing and on club letterhead.

c.         Clubs are required to have an accredited representative in attendance at a RGM. Clubs not represented at the RGM shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200.00). Club representatives wishing to leave before the end of the meeting must receive acknowledgement from the Chairperson. Club representatives that leave early without the acknowledgement of the Chairperson will be fined two hundred dollars ($200.00).

6.3        Special General Meeting

a.         A Special General Meeting may be called by the President, or at the request, in writing, of three (3) Clubs in good standing in the League.

b.         The topics for discussion at a Special General Meeting must be presented in writing to the League and shall be the only subject(s) for discussion at that meeting.

c.         Clubs not represented at a Special General Meeting shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200.00). Club representatives wishing to leave before the end of the meeting must receive acknowledgement from the Chairperson. Club representatives that leave early without the acknowledgement of the Chairperson will be fined two hundred dollars ($200.00).

6.4       Annual Coaches Meeting

a.         The Annual Coaches Meeting shall be held prior to the start of the outdoor season.  The date, time and location of the meeting shall be set by the President.

b.         An individual Representative for each club and for each team is required to attend the Annual Coaches Meeting. 

c.                   Each Club and Team not represented at the Annual Coaches Meeting shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200.00).  A fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) will be levied against the respective Club from which a club or team representative leaves the meeting early without the acknowledgement of the Chairperson.

6.5       An official notice of each meeting shall be given to all Members at least 14 days before meeting is to be held, at such place, and at such date as the Board of Directors may determine. Such notification shall be by Email notification to the Club Representative and Website Notification.

7.0       RULES OF ORDER

7.1       All meetings of the League shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.

8.0       QUORUM

8.1       A majority of member Clubs shall constitute a quorum at the Annual, Regular or Special General Meeting.

9.0       VOTES

9.1       At the Annual General Meeting, Regular Meeting or at a Special General Meeting each Club in good standing is entitled to one (1) vote.

10.0     BOARD OF DIRECTORS

10.1     The business of the League shall be conducted by a Board of Directors, which shall consist of the Officers and eleven (11) directors.  

10.2     The Officers of the League shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

10.3     Officers and Directors shall be elected by secret ballet at the League's AGM.

10.4          Tenure of Officers and Directors shall be for a two (2) year term. The election of President, Secretary, Intermediate Director and four (4) Directors-At-Large will be held in even numbered years and the election of Vice-President, Treasurer, Premier Director, Mini Director and four (4) At Large Directors will be held in odd numbered years.

10.5     In the event an elected member of the LDYSL Board misses three (3) consecutive meetings or is absent greater than 50% of the meetings during a twelve (12) month period, his or her position will be reviewed by the Board with possible removal from the Board.

11.0     MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

11.1     The Board of Directors shall meet monthly at a location determined by the President.

11.2     A majority of Board Members present shall form a quorum.

12.0     DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

12.1     PRESIDENT

(a)        Shall preside at all meetings.

(b)        Shall designate a meeting place.

(c)        Shall represent the League at all official functions.

(d)       Shall be a Signing Officer.

12.2     VICE-PRESIDENT

(a)        Shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the President.

(b)        Shall perform duties as prescribed by the President.

(c)        Shall be a Signing Officer.

12.3     SECRETARY

(a)        Shall attend all meetings.

(b)        Shall be custodian of minutes of all meetings and correspondence files.

12.4     TREASURER

(a)        Shall be responsible for the League's financial transactions.

(b)        Shall record accurately the financial transactions of the League and report same at Board and General Meetings.

(c)        Shall be a Signing Officer.

(d)       Shall provide a year-end detailed financial report to all League Members.

12.5     DIRECTORS

PREMIER DIRECTOR

(a)        Shall be responsible for coordination of all age divisions and teams playing in the competitive (L5) division of the League.

(b)        Shall perform such other tasks and duties as assigned from time to time by the President.

INTERMEDIATE DIRECTOR

(a)        Shall be responsible for coordination of all age divisions and teams playing in the recreational (L6) division of the League.

(b)        Shall perform such other tasks and duties as assigned from time to time by the President.

MINI DIRECTOR

(a)        Shall be responsible for coordination of all and divisions and teams playing mini soccer in the league.

(b)        Shall perform such tasks and duties as assigned from time to time by the President.

DIRECTORS AT LARGE

(a)        Shall perform such tasks and duties as assigned from time to time by the President and/or the Board of Directors.

12.6     VACANCIES

Should a vacancy occur among the Board of Directors, the Board may appoint a person to fill the position until the next AGM.

13.0     FINANCES

13.1     Auditors: The accounts of the League shall be reviewed annually following the end of the League's fiscal year.

13.2     The membership shall appoint a minimum of two independent persons to review the financial records of the League.

13.3     The fiscal year of the League shall be the one-year period ending October 31.

14.0     AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

14.1     Amendments to the LDYSL Constitution may be proposed by the Board of Directors and/or submitted by a Member to the League Secretary at least (30) days prior to Annual General Meeting or Regular General Meeting.

14.2     Copies of all proposed amendments will be sent to all member clubs with the Leagues notification (as per 6.5) at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting at which they will be considered.

14.3     Amendments to the Constitution shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast at an AGM or SGM. All amendments must be submitted to EMSA for review and / or approval.

  January 25, 2009