ACBL DISTRICT 6, INC.

BYLAWS

(Amended August 11, 2005)

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of the organization is ACBL District 6, Inc.

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVE

A.  To cooperate with and assist the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) in the promotion and conduct of bridge tournaments within the District.

B.  To help coordinate tournaments within the District and with adjacent Districts.

C.  To seek concerted action on all matters affecting the District by consultation with and recommendations to the District Representative to the National Board of Directors and to the Board of Governors.

D.  To promote the highest standards of conduct and ethics for participants in tournaments and to take any and all steps necessary for that purpose.

E.  To conduct Grand National Teams and North American Pairs events within the District.

F.  To provide educational, recreational, and social activities for its members through the promotion and conduct of contract bridge tournaments under guidelines approved by the ACBL.

G.  To cooperate in the ACBL charity programs, and to sponsor and conduct charity events with the object of realizing funds for worthy humanitarian causes.

H.  To serve as the regulating authority and fact-finding body in matters consistent with the foregoing objectives or in response to any appropriate requests from the ACBL or other recognized body.

I.  To perform such functions as may promote the best interests of contract bridge.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

A.  All ACBL Units which are or hereafter come into being within the geographical boundaries of the District are automatically Member Units of the District so long as they remain within the District, without requirement of any petition or formal action on the part of the Unit.

B.  ACBL members who are members of any member Unit of the District shall be deemed members of the District.  

ARTICLE IV - DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A.  The District Board of Directors shall be the governing body.

B.  Each member Unit shall be entitled to one vote.  If a call is made to have weighted votes, each Unit shall have one vote, and in addition thereto, one vote for each 750 members or major fraction thereof.  All multiple votes shall reside with the Unit representative. No single Unit may have more District votes than the total number allocated to all other Members Units, minus one.

C.  Units are to notify the District Secretary, in writing, as to the name of their representative immediately following such selection.  In the absence of the representative, Unit Presidents may appoint an alternate representative, either temporarily or permanently, but must submit, in writing, as promptly as possible, the name of such alternate to the District Secretary.

D.  The membership of a Unit shall be the greatest number of members recorded with the ACBL for the preceding calendar year.

E.  The officers of District 6, the ACBL Board Member of the District, the First and Second Alternates, and the three Board of Governors members shall also be members of the District Board of Directors and shall have one vote each.

1)  If an individual holds more than one position enumerated in this section, that individual is still entitled only to one vote.

2)  If an individual holds one ore more positions enumerated in this section, and also holds (temporarily or permanently) the position of Unit representative, that individual shall be entitled to one vote for the enumerated position(s) and one vote as Unit representative, and, in the event of a weighted vote, to such additional votes to which the Unit may be entitled.

F.  The immediate Past President shall remain a full voting member of the District Board until his/her successor becomes available to serve as Past President.

ARTICLE V - POWERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    The District Board shall have the following powers:

A.  To determine the place and date for any Regional tournament and Grand National Teams or North American Pairs event held within the District; establish the schedule of events and arrange for adequate staff, playing accommodations and hotel rooms, subject to ACBL consent.

B.  To acquire, hold, and dispose of any funds or property acquired by the organization.

C.  To empanel a District Appellate Committee.

D.  To employ personnel to serve the organization at the discretion of the District Board.

E.  To enter into agreements with member Units for voluntary contributions for purposes consistent with the objectives of the ACBL and the District, such as, but not limited to, hosting a National or International event or sustaining the District organization.

F.  The promotion of the best interest of contract bridge including, but not limited to, education, entertainment, charity programs, and assistance to the ACBL.

G.  Do such things as may be necessary to accomplish the objectives outlined in Article II of these Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A.  The Annual Meeting shall be held during the July 4th Regional tournament at such date and time as shall be designated by the District President; or at such other time as the District Board shall designate.  

B.  Notice of such Annual Meeting shall be made in writing to the President of each Member Unit at least 30 days prior to such meeting.

C.  Special meetings may be called on not less than 15 days written notice by the District President or upon written request of not less than one-half of the Board Members or by the Presidents of more than one-half of the member Units.  Notification of such meetings will be accompanied by an Agenda stating the items to be discussed.  The meeting shall be limited to such Agenda.+

D.  A quorum for the transaction of any business at any meeting of the District Board shall consist of the presence in person of Board Members having in the aggregate a majority of the votes on the District Board and representing at least 50% of the member Units.

E.  The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern District 6 meetings in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws or the special rules of order of this District.  

ARTICLE VII - ELECTION OF OFFICERS

A.  The officers shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. Each of these officers shall be elected by the District Board for a term of one year (and until their successors shall be elected) at the Annual Meeting of the District Board of Directors.  Officers shall take office at the conclusion of the meeting at which they are elected.

B.  Nominations for each of the offices will be made by a nominating committee appointed by the President, or from the floor during the course of the meeting. Nominees must be selected from the District membership. A majority of votes is necessary for election and if no majority exists on a first ballot, the names of the two candidates, including ties, receiving the largest number of votes will be placed on a second ballot.

ARTICLE VIII - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

A.  President:  The President shall preside at all meetings of the District Board.  He shall supervise the management of the affairs of the District and perform all duties incidental to this office.  He shall be a member ex officio of all committees.  He shall appoint such special committees as he shall, from time to time, consider necessary.

B.  Vice-President:  In the absence of the President or in his inability to act, the Vice-President shall preside at the meetings and succeed him in the performance of his duties.  If both are unable to act, then the District Board shall choose a presiding officer from among their group.

C.  Treasurer:  The Treasurer shall have the care, custody, and responsibility of all funds, securities, and properties of the District.  He shall deposit the funds of the District in such financial institutions as may be designated by the District Board.  He shall keep an accurate account of all receipts and disbursements and shall submit a report at the Annual Meeting and at such other times as may be required by the President or the District Board.

D.  Secretary:  The Secretary shall keep the records of the District and the minutes of meetings and shall perform other duties incident to this office.  The Secretary shall be a non-voting member ex officio of all committees and shall keep a record of all Member Units and their officers and representatives.  

ARTICLE IX - MEMBER UNITS

A.  All Member Units retain autonomy in the conduct of their affairs, as provided in the regulations and Bylaws of the ACBL.

B.  Each Member Unit shall:

ARTICLE X - APPELLATE COMMITTEE

A.  The Appellate Committee shall consist of a Chairman and a maximum of fifteen members appointed by the President.  The President shall solicit names of potential committee members from each Member Unit President and shall include at least one nominee from each Member Unit in the final committee composition.  No more than three committee members from any one Member Unit shall be appointed to the Appellate Committee at any one time.  Members shall be chosen from nominees with previous experience on committees relating to conduct, proprieties, sportsmanship, and ethics.  Members must be members of the District.

B.  The duties and responsibilities of the Appellate Committee are determined by the ACBL and the Committee serves a defined role in the ACBL appeals process.  When an Appeals Committee is convened in accordance with this process, its members shall normally be members of the Appellate Committee.  If necessary, additional persons meeting the requirements of Paragraph A of this Article, but not appointed to the Appellate Committee, may be empanelled for such specific appeal. However, a majority of the Appeals Committee hearing such appeal shall be Appellate Committee members.

C.  The Appellate Committee shall establish procedures and guidelines for carrying out its assigned objectives.  Such procedures and guidelines shall be consistent with ACBL policies and regulations governing these matters and will be subject to the review and concurrence of the District Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XI - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

    An Executive Committee will consist of the District President and Vice President, and any two Presidents of Member Units.  At the Annual Meeting at which he is elected, the President-Elect shall announce his Executive Committee appointments.  A Member Unit President may continue to serve on the Executive Committee for one year from his appointment even after the expiry of his unit term-of-office, or may be replaced by another appropriate member Unit President, at the discretion of the District President.  At least three members of the Executive Committee must concur for any action to be taken by this Committee.  The President shall report all Executive Committee actions to the District Board at its next regular meeting.

ARTICLE XII - OTHER COMMITTEES

    Other Committees may be established and their members appointed by the President from time to time as needed, functioning under such conditions as the District Board may stipulate.

ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

    These Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the District Board at which a quorum is present provided that the notice of such meeting states the amendment to be considered and the notice is sent to each voting member of record of the Board of Directors and to each member Unit President and Secretary at least 30 days prior to such meeting.  A concurrence of two-thirds of the votes present at any meeting of the District Board shall be required for the passage of any amendment to these Bylaws.  

Also see Standing Rules