CONSTITUTION of the MISSISSAUGA BRANCH

ARTICLE 1: NAME

  1. The Association shall be called the Ontario Soccer Referees' Association, Mississauga Branch and shall, throughout this document, be referred to as the Branch
  2. The address of the Branch shall be that of the Secretary

ARTICLE 2: OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Branch shall be to advance the game of soccer by:

  1. abiding by the constitution and by-laws of the Ontario Soccer Referees' Association.
  2. promoting the growth of soccer within the City of Mississauga
  3. fostering a relationship of co-operation with soccer clubs registered in the City of Mississauga and surrounding areas.
  4. promoting personal education and fitness for Branch members.

ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Branch shall be open to:

  1. Ordinary Members who are, or are attempting to be, qualified as referees under the requirements of the Ontario Soccer Association.
  2. Associate Members who may be either ordinary members of another branch of the Ontario Soccer Referees' Association, or referees who have retired from active officiating but wish to maintain their relationship with the Branch.
  3. Special Members who have been admitted to the Branch by invitation of the Executive Committee.
  4. Honourary Life Members who have been nominated by the Executive Committee and elected at an Annual General Meeting by a 75% majority of those present and voting.

ARTICLE 4: FEES

The annual membership fees for Ordinary and Associate Members shall:

  1. be determined at either an Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting.
  2. become effective in the ensuing year.
  3. be due and payable to the Treasurer for the year in advance.

To be eligible to participate in, be represented, or vote at the election of officers at the Annual General Meeting, a member shall have paid his fees for the ensuing year.

ARTICLE 5: OFFICERS

The officers of the Branch:

  1. shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and two (2) directors.
  2. shall be nominated from the ranks of the ordinary membership of the branch.
  3. shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a two year term by a simple majority of members present and voting
  4. shall hold office until the Election of Officers at the Annual General Meeting at which they would normally seek re-election or resign, or earlier, upon vacating the office for any reason.
  5. shall be eligible for re-election so long as they qualify individually.
  6. shall include the Immediate Past President as a member of the Executive Committee for one year only, following his Presidency.
  7. shall be elected as follows: President, Secretary and one (1) Director in odd numbered years; Vice-President, Treasurer and one (1) Director in even numbered years.
  8. may, if unable to attend the Annual General Meeting, be nominated by proxy provided that a letter stating intent to stand for office and being signed by the candidate, the nominator, and the seconder is presented to the chairman at the time of nomination.

Any incumbent officer seeking election to a different office prior to the end of his elected term shall resign from his present office prior to the commencement of the Election of Officers.

ARTICLE 6: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee of the Branch shall:

  1. consist of the six (6) officers listed in Article 5.
  2. include the Immediate Past President for the year immediately following his Presidency.
  3. include a Branch Member who is co-opted for a special project and will be an ex officio member for the duration of that project.
  4. appoint an individual to fill a vacancy from the time of the vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting at which time the appointment can be ratified or another member elected.
  5. transact all business of the Branch.
  6. retain custody of all property belonging to the Branch.

ARTICLE 7: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The members of the Executive Committee shall perform the special duties listed herein, notwithstanding any other duties that may be indicated elsewhere.

  1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Branch or Executive Committee at which he is present, decide on all questions of order, and announce the results of voting (except during the election of officers at which time an independent chair person will be co-opted). Whilst in the chair, he will neither move nor second any proposition or amendment, nor shall he vote unless there is a tie in which case he will cast a deciding ballot. He shall not participate in any debate whilst in the chair, except in debates on rules of order. He shall ensure that other officers perform their appointed duties and that all by-laws are enforced.
  2. The Vice-President shall assist the President in the discharge of his duties and shall officiate in the President's absence. In the event of the Presidency becoming vacant, he shall assume that office until the next Annual General Meeting.
  3. The Secretary shall keep a record of proceedings at all meetings of the Branch and of the Executive Committee. At each meeting he shall read the minutes of the previous meeting. He shall conduct the correspondence of the Branch and issue notices of meetings to Branch Members including an agenda and any necessary supplementary information. He shall provide a report of his activities for the year at the Annual General Meeting.
  4. The Treasurer shall receive (and give an official receipt for), and be responsible for, all funds of the Branch. He shall, with the approval of the Executive Committee, pay in a timely manner, all financial obligations incurred by the Branch. He shall, for the Annual General Meeting, provide a Balance Sheet and a statement of Income and Expenditure for the year ended September 30 each year.
  5. The Directors shall be assigned, by the President, to specific duties as required by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE 8: FINANCES

  1. All funds of the Branch shall be deposited in a Canadian financial institution authorized by the Executive Committee to an account in the name of the Branch.
  2. The Treasurer together with either the President or Secretary shall sign all withdrawals and cheques drawn on behalf of the Branch.
  3. The Treasurer shall monthly, submit a copy of the bank statement together with an interim statement of income and expense to the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE 9: AUDITORS

  1. Two Branch Members shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to audit the financial records of the Branch
    1. at any time they choose without notice
    2. upon request of the Executive Committee
    3. annually as at September 30 and prior to the Annual General Meeting
  2. The auditors' certificate shall be appended to the financial reports presented to the Annual General Meeting by the Treasurer.

ARTICLE 10: MEETINGS

  1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held on a convenient date between October 15 and October 31 each year and notice convening this meeting shall be sent to each member not less than fourteen (14) days before the date of the meeting.
  2. The agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be:
    1. Roll Call of Members for the year ending
    2. Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting
    3. Matters arising from those minutes
    4. Correspondence
    5. President's report
    6. Secretary's report
    7. Treasurer's report
    8. Committee reports, if any
    9. Old business
    10. Amendments to the Constitution and By-laws
    11. Recess
    12. Roll Call of Members for the year ensuing
    13. Election of Officers
    14. New Business
    15. Other items as determined by the Chairman of the Meeting
  3. A Special General Meeting shall be called by the Secretary on instructions from the President, or on receipt of a written request signed by an Ordinary Member of the Branch. At a Special General Meeting, only such business as is stated on the agenda shall be open for debate. Notice convening this meeting shall be sent to each member not less than seven (7) days before the date of the meeting.
  4. Executive Committee Meetings shall be held as necessary at the call of the President, or in his absence, by the Vice-President.
  5. Regular Branch Meetings shall be held on a regular basis from early January to mid May each year. These meetings shall be scheduled as educational sessions but may also be used for any other social or business purpose as needed by the Branch.

ARTICLE 11: QUORUMS

  1. At General Meetings, representation of one third of the Branch membership shall constitute a quorum.
  2. In the absence of a quorum at a General Meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned until the earliest convenient date within one month of the adjourned meeting. The secretary shall notify all members of the rescheduled meeting as required by Article 10(i) or 10(iii).

ARTICLE 12: VOTING

  1. At the Annual General Meeting and any Special Meeting, each Ordinary shall be entitled to a vote. Special Members and Life Members may speak, but may not vote.
  2. At Regular Meetings dealing with day-to-day business of the Branch, all members present shall be entitled to a vote.
  3. At all meetings of the Branch, the President, or in his absence, the Chairman of the meeting may cast a deciding vote.
  4. No Associate Member shall Nominate or be Nominated for a position on the Executive.

ARTICLE 13: CONDUCT

  1. Members of the Branch shall:
    1. By virtue of an application and by payment of a subscription fee, be deemed and required to have subscribed to the Constitution and By-Laws and to any alterations and amendments properly approved.
    2. Conduct themselves in such a manner as to be a credit to the Branch and the game as a whole.
  2. The Executive Committee shall deal with cases of misconduct reported to the Branch.

ARTICLE 14: INTERPRETATION

  1. Interpretations of the Constitution and By-Laws, as well as questions in dispute, shall be referred to the Executive Committee.
  2. The singular shall include the plural and vice versa
  3. The masculine and feminine genders shall be interchangeable.

ARTICLE 15: ALTERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS

No alterations or amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws may be made unless written or electronic notice signed by two (2) Ordinary Members of the Branch shall be received by the Secretary not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual General Meeting or to a Special General Meeting called for that purpose. Only the alterations or amendments shall be referred to at that meeting or any adjournment thereof.

ARTICLE 16: BY-LAWS

By-Laws shall:

  1. be itemized in a separate document entitled "By-Laws of the Ontario Soccer Referees' Association, Mississauga Branch"
  2. be subject to amendment at any meeting provided that the amendment is presented as a decision of the Executive Committee and is passed by a simple majority of Members present and voting.

*  Revised May, 2006