BY-LAWS OF THE BUFFALO & WESTERN
NEW YORK JUNIOR SOCCER LEAGUE

BYLAWS EFFECTIVE MARCH 3, 2005

ARTICLE 1 - PURPOSE

The BUFFALO & WESTERN NEW YORK JUNIOR SOCCER LEAGUE is an organization to foster Junior Soccer in the Western New York area. The organization will provide the administrative structure necessary for the conduct of organized competitive soccer commensurate with players' interest and ability. All activities of this organization will be designed to promote the development of players as responsible human beings. The headquarters of the organization shall be in the greater Buffalo, New York area and meetings shall be held in this area.

ARTICLE 2 – DEFINITIONS

The following terms as used in these Bylaws shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

 ARTICLE 3 – ORGANIZATION

1. Membership in B&WNYJSL shall be open to any amateur soccer organizations (hereinafter referred to as “Member Clubs”) functioning within the geographic area served by B&WNYJSL as described in Section 1-Purpose of its Bylaws. Membership in all B&WNYJSL Member Clubs shall be open to all soccer players, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials not subject to suspension in accordance with Section 4 of Bylaw 241 of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
    

2. B&WNYJSL shall be a Classic League.
    

3. B&WNYJSL shall be governed by a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall develop policies and procedures to govern all aspects of team eligibility, player eligibility, league play and discipline of members. The Board of Directors shall be composed of the following officers, directors and Life Member:
   
   PRESIDENT
   The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation; chair all meetings of the Board, make work assignments to standing committees and be an ex-officio member of all such committees.
   
   VICE-PRESIDENT
   The Vice President shall serve as Acting President in the absence of the President; shall be the liaison with the Referee Unit; shall chair the Audit Committee and the Cup/Tournament Committee.
   
   DIRECTORS
   Up to 5 Directors will be elected and their duties are determined by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.
   
   LIFE MEMBER
   The Life Member shall chair the election committee.
    

4. Any Director absenting himself for two consecutive meetings and unable to give a satisfactory reason for such absence, may forfeit his office by majority vote of the other members of the Board of Directors. His successor shall be appointed by the President and approved by a majority of the Board of Directors. Should a vacancy occur through any other cause, the same procedure shall be taken.
    

5. Monthly meetings of the B&WNYJSL shall be scheduled by the Board of Directors. Monthly meeting dates will be posted on the league web site. There will be no regular monthly meetings scheduled for the months of JULY, SEPTEMBER and NOVEMBER.
    

6. Special meetings of the Members may be called by the Board or by the President and shall be called by the President or the Secretary at the request in writing by Members entitled to cast ten percent (10%) of the total number of votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Business transacted at a special meeting shall be confined to the purpose stated in the notice.
    

7. A majority of the Board of Directors present at a board meeting shall constitute a quorum, and all questions shall be decided by majority vote of those present.
    

8. B&WNYJSL shall not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.
    

9. The USSF articles of incorporation, bylaws, policies and requirements take precedence over and supersede the governing documents and decisions of B&WNYJSL and its membership to the extent applicable under state law, and B&WNYJSL and its membership will abide by those articles, bylaws, policies, and requirements.
   
   

10. B&WNYJSL will not join any organization that has requirements that conflict with the articles, bylaws, policies, and requirements of the USSF.
     

11. B&WNYJSL and its Member Clubs will abide by the articles, bylaws, policies, and requirements of the USSF on interplay. The B&WNYJSL shall be affiliated with the NYSWYSA and shall at all times recognize the authority, rulings, and laws of said body. In case of conflicts or omissions in the bylaws, the rules and laws of the highest parent organization shall prevail wherever applicable.
     

12. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the 1st day of November and end on the 31st day of October of each year.

ARTICLE 4 - COMMITTEES

The Board of Directors will appoint individuals to serve on all standing committees. No more than one representative from any Member Club shall serve on any one committee. The following committees will assist the Board of Directors in administering B&WNYJSL, by performing work assignments as directed by the President in the following areas:

MEMBERSHIP
This committee shall screen all applicants for admission and ensure that the requirements of Article 5; Section 2 are met. This committee will review team eligibility; Member Club voting eligibility and maintain the list of representatives from the Members Clubs. One of the directors shall be the chair this committee.

POLICY AND PROCEDURES
This committee shall solicit information from members and the Board of Directors to be used in drafting or revising the By-laws, operating policies and procedures for the B&WNYJSL, which will be recommended to the Board of Directors. One of the directors shall chair this committee.

AWARDS
This committee shall review nominations for all awards and make recommendations to the Board of Directors. The Life Member serving on the Board shall chair this committee.

COMPETITION
This committee will by the December monthly B&WNYJSL meeting shall make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the alignments of the league to be offered for the playing year. This committee shall screen all team applications to assist in developing the optimal league alignments. One of the directors shall chair this committee.

AUDIT
This committee shall review the books and accounts maintained by the Treasurer, and shall provide the Board of Directors with an annual report no later than the January monthly meeting each year. The Vice-President shall chair this committee.

DISCIPLINE
This committee shall review all complaints or protests regarding potential rule infractions, or misconduct by players, coaches, spectators, managers, or other individuals over whom the B&WNYJSL has jurisdiction, and shall make all decisions regarding any sanctions. One of the directors shall chair of this committee.

ELECTION
This committee shall prepare a list of candidates to fill offices that are to be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Life Members of the B&WNYJSL shall serve on this committee and the Life Member on the Board of Directors shall be the chair.

CUP AND TOURNAMENTS
This committee shall administer all B&WNYJSL sponsored Cups/Tournaments. The Vice-President shall chair this committee.

ARTICLE 5 – MEMBERSHIP

1. Each Member Club shall designate up to three individuals as a representative of that club, who shall attend as the official representative for any and all B&WNYJSL meetings. Each member club shall notify the B&WNYJSL in writing regarding their official representatives, as well as any subsequent changes in the designation.
    

2. Member Clubs shall be entitled to register teams for B&WNYJSL competition, provided that all policies and procedures are met and, the Member Club and/or team of that Member Club is not under any sanction which would preclude them from competition.
   
   

3. Any Member Club who fails to pay any fines or other indebtedness due to B&WNYJSL, NYSWYSA, USSF, or any other organization affiliated with the USSF shall be liable for punishment or suspension by the Board of Directors of the B&WNYJSL.
    

4. Member Clubs that register teams must attend 7 of the 9 monthly meetings during the team membership period. Failure to attend will result in sanctions or fines as determined by the Board of Directors in the Policies and Procedures.
    

5. The Board of Directors by a majority vote may revoke the membership of any Member Club if it is determined that they do not meet membership requirements, or when actions by the Member Club are deemed detrimental to the best interests of the B&WNYJSL. The offending Member Club shall be notified, in writing, at least one week prior to any regular or special meeting called for the purpose of revocation of membership.

ARTICLE 6 - MEETINGS

1. General Meeting - An annual general meeting shall be held each year in the month of October at which time officers shall be elected to the Board of Directors. The President, Recording Secretary, three (3) Directors shall be elected for two year terms in years ending in even numbers, while the Vice President, Treasurer, and two (2) Directors shall be elected for two year terms in years ending in odd numbers. Officers may be reelected.
    

2. Voting – Each Member Club that is in good standing with the B&WNYJSL and affiliated organizations and has registered at least one team for the team registration period that is defined as the period of the February through January each year, shall have one vote. The secretary shall verify the eligibility of each member before any vote.
    

3. A majority of the Member Clubs present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum, and all questions shall be decided by majority vote of those present who are eligible to cast votes.

ARTICLE 7 – LIFE MEMBERS

1. The B&WNYJSL may choose to recognize individuals for extra-ordinary dedication and service to youth soccer in general and to the B&WNYJSL in particular, by election to Life Membership in the League. To be elected to Life Membership, a candidate must be nominated by the Board of Directors and receive two-thirds (2/3) of the votes present at the next annual general meeting after nomination. The Board of Directors may nominate only one candidate in a given year. No more than five (5) individuals shall be elected to Life Membership in any 10 year interval commencing in 1980. Life Members may be elected or appointed to any office in the normal manner described in the By-laws.
    

2. If more than one Life Member is available to serve as Life Member on the Board of Directors, the Life Members shall decide among themselves upon a rotation for serving in one year terms commencing at each Annual General Meeting. If the Life Members cannot agree among themselves for the Life Member position on the Board of Directors, the President shall establish a rotation based upon seniority of election to Life Membership where each Life Member has the opportunity to serve for at least one full year as Life Member on the Board of Directors before another serves twice.

ARTICLE 8 – GRIEVENCES AND APPEALS

B&WNYJSL will provide equitable and prompt hearing and appeal procedures to guarantee the rights of its Member Clubs, teams and individuals to participate and compete within the league. These procedures will comply with NYSWYSA Adjudication Policy contained in the Adjudication Manual, and shall include that all grievances involving the right to participate and compete in activities sponsored by USSF and NYSWYSA and its members may be appealed initially to NYSWYSA, and, if necessary, on to Appeals Committee of USSF that shall have jurisdiction to approve, modify or reverse a decision. A copy of the hearing and appeal procedures and filing form shall be in the Policies and Procedures of B&WNYJSL

ARTICLE 9 - AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS AND CHANGES IN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

1. The By-laws may be amended or modified by any Member Club or member of the Board of Directors at any time under the following provisions:

   a.	Any proposed change must be read to the Member Club representatives at two consecutive meetings. A vote may be scheduled at either the meeting where the second reading is conducted, or at the next scheduled meeting.
   b.	The proposed change must include the date the change will go into effect.
   c.	The proposed change must be provided in writing to each Member Club at least 14 days prior to a scheduled final vote.
   d.	The proposed change must be enacted if a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the eligible voting Member Clubs in attendance at the meeting where a vote is to be cast.
   e.	Effective date of any changes shall be at the conclusion of the meeting of the affirmative vote or if the change was mandated by a higher authority the change will go into effect at the conclusion of the meeting that the change was presented.

2. The Policies and Procedures of B&WNYJSL may be revised by a simple majority vote of the Board members present at any meeting where a change is considered. However, no changes in Policies and Procedures may be enacted between March 1st and August 31st and any changes made must be provided in writing to all Member Clubs at the next B&WNYJSL meeting to the designated Member Club representative.