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Gay Hockey International (GHi) Constitution
Adopted October 11, 1998; as Amended through September 2, 2003
Constitution
GHi was incorporated under the laws of Ontario, Canada, on August 12, 1998 as the International Gay and Lesbian Ice Hockey Association, and is governed by a Constitution (aka 'Bylaws').
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To address the Executive Committee of the GHi Board of Directors, email: execs@gayhockey.org
GHi CONSTITUTION
(Adopted 11 October 1998; Amended 26 July 1999, 12 August 1999, 08 October 2000, 11 August 2003, and 02 September 2003)
MISSION STATEMENT
Gay Hockey International (GHi) was formed to act as an umbrella organization with the intent to form a more cohesive and structured association representing gay and lesbian hockey teams, leagues and individuals throughout the world
Through this association, greater communication with and guidance for member groups should result in enhanced recruitment procedures' more consistent tournament formats and provide a liaison with other sporting bodies such as the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) and the Gay Lesbian International Sports Association (GLISA).
CONSTITUTION
NAME
The association shall be hereinafter be known as the Gay Hockey International (GHi)
FORMATION
1) GHi, in its current form, was formed in Seattle, WA on April 3, 1998, at Team Seattle's offices at 1605-12th Ave at 12.00 noon. GHi was formed to provide an umbrella organization capable of providing guidance for the formation and direction of member organizations or prospective members and act as a voice for liaising with other national or international sporting bodies.
OBJECTIVES
2a) To provide and protect the opportunity of individuals who support the bonds of gay and lesbian fellowship to play hockey in an inclusive environment free from discrimination on the basis of age, sex, creed, ability, or sexual orientation.
2b) To institute and regulate the rules of the constitution.
2c) To promote and recognize the concept of the member organizations/cities as unique operational units within the association structure and will not seek to impose direction and regulations upon these associations except where specifically solicited.
2d) To allow and foster commercial affiliation provided the move is approved by a majority of its member organizations.
2e) To elect a representative who will attend FGG and GLISA meetings; liaise with FGG and GLISA and be the voice for GHi; and report the results of FGG and GLISA meetings and correspondences to GHi. The representative will advise Gay Games and OutGames host cities on rules, regulations, and specifics of running the ice hockey tournament.
2f) To provide direction and advice to member organizations with respect to the format and operation of GHi sanctioned tournaments.
2g) To act as a group seeking to inform, advertise, publicize and otherwise promote the formation and existence of leagues, teams, and organizations open to gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgendered and gay positive players in any manner possible.
MEMBERSHIP
3a) Membership in GHi is open to any individual that complies with the regulations set forth in the constitution and supports the objectives of the association.
3b) Prospective member organizations must be approved by the current executive by a majority vote.
3c) Prospective individual members must meet at least one of the following three membership criteria: (1) participate in a sanctioned GHi event as a rostered player, coach, manager, or official; (2) be associated as a member in good standing with an approved member organization; and/or (3) establish participation in GHi as an unaffiliated member.
3d) Prospective individual members must properly submit an application for membership along with appropriate dues and/or fees prior to be granted membership. Initial membership shall be effective contingent upon receipt of subject application and verification that the membership criteria has been met. The duration of the initial membership shall be no less than a year and shall expire in conjunction with the close of GHi's subsequent annual meeting.
3e) Existing individual members shall renew their memberships on an annual basis by providing appropriate notification to the Secretary and submitting appropriate dues and/or fees.
3f) Any member organization or individual may have their status in the organization reviewed by the general GHi membership. As a result of said review, GHi shall recommend that the subject member(s) have their membership retained, suspended or revoked, forfeiting all previously paid dues based on a majority vote. This matter may be appealed in writing to the executive office within one week after the matter has been decided and the appeal decided upon within one week of receipt of the appeal.
3g) GHi shall determine the amount of annual dues that each organization must pay to remain a member of GHi.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
4a) The Board of Directors shall consist of at least five (5) and no more than ninety-nine (99) GHi members.
4b) The Board shall be comprised of the Executive Officers, elected by a majority vote of the general membership to one-year terms, and the Regional Representatives, individually selected by a majority vote by the membership within each geographic region to two-year terms.
4c) Geographical regions shall be established and maintained by the executive office and ratified by the Board, taking into consideration the uniqueness of each member organization, the number of affiliated GHi individual members, and the objectives of the association. Prospective members shall indicate their choice of regional affiliation upon their membership application.
4d) The founding geographic regions of GHi shall be: Seattle; Vancouver; Toronto; Montreal; Boston/New England; New York; Washington, DC; Southern California; Northern California; Wisconsin/Minnesota; North America (at-large); Europe (at-large); and World (at-large).
4e) Additional geographic regions of GHi shall include: Ottawa, Florida, Colorado, and Ohio.
4f) The Regional Representatives shall represent the views of their member organization(s) at all times and report the results of all GHi meetings and decisions to their regional members.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DUTIES
5a) Commissioner
Is chief spokesperson of GHi;
Is responsible for calling and presiding over GHi meetings;
Is the official contact for GHi;
Provides support for all other executive positions;
Will act as cosigner for all GHi accounts.
5b) Assistant Commissioner
Performs above duties in absence of the commissioner;
Promotes GHi to prospective member organization;
Provides support for all other positions.
5c) Treasurer
Acts as one of two signing officers for the GHi bank account;
Keeps an accurate account of revenue/expense and proposed and actual budgets;
Reports to the other members once a year of the current financial status.
5d) Secretary
Keeps a log of all correspondence amongst executive meeting and otherwise all matters pertaining to GHi discussed by executive members;
Prepares and types for distribution any document as instructed by the executive;
Maintains the official GHi membership roster and assures that the membership is duly notified of official GHi business in accordance with the constitution.
Maintains a current mailing list of GHi members and keep the membership apprised of GHi events and activities;
Assures that requests for information receive a timely response.
5e) Mens Representative
Actively seeks and supports new membership by individuals, teams and organizations;
Represents the interests of men at the executive meetings and during any GHi business.
5f) Womens Representative
Actively seeks and supports new membership by individuals, teams and organizations;
Represents the interests of women at the executive meetings and during any GHi business.
5g) Gay Sports Movement Representative (Male)
Attend FGG and GLISA meetings, correspond with FGG and GLISA and be the official voice to FGG and GLISA for GHi as designated by the Executive Committee;
Also will report the results of FGG and GLISA meetings and relevant matters to GHi;
Will advise host cities on rules and running of hockey tournaments at FGG and GLISA sanctioned tournaments.
5h) Gay Sports Movement Representative (Female)
Attend FGG and GLISA meetings, correspond with FGG and GLISA and be the official voice to FGG and GLISA for GHi as designated by the Executive Committee;
Also will report the results of FGG and GLISA meetings and relevant matters to GHi;
Will advise host cities on rules and running of hockey tournaments at FGG and GLISA sanctioned tournaments.
EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
6a) Be available for input into the executive meetings/ discussions in person, or by mail, by phone, by email or by fax at any time with at least one week notice.
6b) All members of executive must have one vote except where, in the event of a tie, the commissioner has a second and deciding vote.
6c) All members of the executive with access to GHi funds must be bondable.
6d) All reasonable costs associated with the operations of GHi must be approved by the executive by a majority vote.
6e) When a member of GHi is found in dereliction of duty and responsibility, and having been given adequate notice of warning, that member can be removed from office by a majority vote of the executive.
6f) Provide support for other executive members of GHi.
ELECTIONS
7a) Nominations shall be made by members in good standing of any member organization. Appointments, acclamations and elections shall be for one or two year periods concluding with the close of business at the annual meetings in 1999 and 2000, respectively.
7b) Nominations for a position can be accepted for a 6 month period up to one week before elections take place. Elected positions not filled or vacant are to be filled by means of appointment by GHi executive (the appointment will be made no earlier than two weeks following the notice of the vacancy to the general membership of GHi). Any appointments require a majority approval by the executive, and ratification by the Board of Directors before the vacancy shall be filled.
7c) An elections committee will be chosen by the executive.
ANNUAL MEETING
8a) The Commissioner (or his/her delegate) shall call and preside over the Annual Meeting.
8b) The proposed date and time of the Annual Meeting shall be announced to the general membership at least three weeks in advance of the proposed meeting.
8c) For the purposes of the Annual Meeting only, a quorum shall exist if at least 1/3 of eligible Board members are present.
8d) In the event that the Annual Meeting is to be conducted via either teleconference and/or electronic means, at least 50% of eligible Board members must have access to the requisite technology.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
9a) Amendments may be proposed by the executive or any member in good standing of the association.
9b) This Constitution can be amended or changed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at any time, or alternately, by a majority vote of those Board members in attendance at the annual meeting.
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at kagan@gayhockey.org