Constitution and Bylaws

BY-LAWS

DUTIES AND POWERS OF EXECUTIVE OFFICIALS:
PRESIDENT

The President, within the jurisdiction of the Association, shall have all the powers of the President of the Branch. The President shall preside at all meetings of this Association and the Executive Committee. In case of equality of votes, the President, in addition to the original vote, shall have a second or casting vote. He shall generally perform the duties usual to the office of President and may at his discretion order the calling of meetings of this Association or its Committees. The President shall exercise in addition to his own powers conferred upon him by the by-laws, all duties and powers of the Executive Committee in case of emergency, but his decision ceases to be effective from the date of the following meeting of the Executive Committee if the latter does not ratify it.
The President or his official designate shall have the power to temporarily suspend any player, coach, manager or persons directly connected with hockey within the Association, for ungentelmanly conduct on or off the ice, for abusive language or infractions toward any official in respect to any incident which occurs in connection with any regular scheduled game, exhibition game or tournament game. It is understood that as many on-ice incidents as possible will be dealt with by the Head Referee in charge of the game. Such suspensions will remain in effect until such time as dealt with by the Disciplinary Committee who shall prepare a report to the Branch. (see By-Law VII)

The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings of the Association and these records will be kept in the Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association's office at the Fort Frances Sports Centre.
The Secretary shall notify Executive Officers and the Board of Directors of the time and place of meeting.
The Secretary shall arrange for publication in the newspaper of the notice of the Annual meeting at least two (2) weeks before the date of the meeting.
The Secretary may be one of the signing officers of the Association.
The Secretary shall perform such other duties as shall be necessary for the good and welfare of the Association.
The Secretary shall handle all liability claims, seeing that they are properly processed and settled.

TREASURER

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

The Past President shall participate in the deliberations of the Association.
The Past President shall assist the incoming Executive in the transition period following the Annual Meeting.
The Past President shall study the Executive duties annually and recommend changes if necessary.
The Past President shall be head of the Annual Meeting Nominating Committee.

BY LAW II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors shall consist of the Executive Officers, six (6) Conveners, six (6) elected Directors and the Referee in Chief.
A quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of such members.
The Board of Directors shall have power to fill any vacancies which may occur in its members and to amend or alter regulations of the Association.

SPECIFIC DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

CONVENERS

The duties of the Conveners are many and varied. The primary function is to see that the constitution, rules regulations and procedures are carried out in accordance with the Associations policies. The Convener is the direct contact with the coaches, managers, the public and game officials. The Association is judged by the Conveners organizational abilities, handling and solving problems and meeting the needs of their divisions.
Public relations and tactfulness are of the utmost importance.
a) The Conveners may recommend the appointment of the Assistant Conveners for their divisions, and upon acceptance by the Association such Assistant Conveners shall become voting members of the Board of Directors in the absence of the regular conveners.
b) Shall assist the Association in registration of players and teams for their divisions.
c) Shall conduct pre-season meetings with coaches and managers.
d) Shall have the authority to enforce all rules, regulations and procedures.
e) Shall appoint coaches required to operate their House League Team and have the power to recommend dismissal by the Executive of all those deemed incompetent.
f) Shall attend Board of Director Meetings with prepared interim reports.
g) Shall submit a report in writing for their division at the Annual meeting.
h) Shall sit on the Discipline Committee whenever the player involved is from their division.
i) Shall handle any team protest as outlined.
j) Shall make sure all players cards are in to the President of their Association for forwarding to the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association.

ELECTED DIRECTORS

The Elected Directors are a very valuable element of the Association:
a) The Directors shall attend all meetings of the Association and shall have full power to make and vote on motions.
b) Shall sit on and chair various committees as may be required.

REFEREE IN CHIEF

a) The Referee in Chief shall appoint the referees for all local and representative teams, exhibition and tournament games given sufficient notice and his appointment shall be final.
b) May appoint an assistant and have the authority to dismiss an assistant deemed incompetent.
c) Shall appoint goal judges for play-off games upon request.
d) Shall appoint a referee other than on the list only when he cannot secure the services of one for special reasons considered in the interest of the Association.
e) Shall have the power to recommend dismissal of any referee deemed incompetent.
f) Shall deal immediately with any referee who misses an assignment.
g) Shall serve on the Disciplinary Committee.
h) Shall present a written report at each meeting to the year’s operations.
i) Shall, through the aid of clinics, train and supply sufficient referees to satisfy the demand of the Association.

PUBLIC RELATIONS PERSON

The public relations person shall be responsible for notifying the media with information regarding schedules, standings, statistics and other pertinent information.

WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

The Ways and Means committee:
a) Shall organize and assist in events that will provide support for the Association.
b) Shall be responsible for sending letters annual to local businesses requesting donations.

TROPHY CHAIRPERSON

a) The Trophy Chairperson shall be responsible for keeping an up to date inventory of those trophies in the Association’s possession.
b) Shall keep all trophies in good order.

BY-LAW III

MEETINGS

a) The Annual Meeting shall be held on or before the 15th day of May annually.
b) All meetings of the Board of Directors shall be at the call of the President, except as outlined under item c) below.
c) At the request of three (3) Board Members the President shall call a special meeting. No subject shall be discussed or considered at any special meeting except that specified in the notice.
d) A quorum for Board of Directors Meetings shall consist of a majority of members.
e) The public is welcome to attend any regular meeting of the Association. They may voice their opinions or questions, but may not make or vote on any motions.

BY-LAW IV

VOTING

a) The following shall be eligible to vote at the annual meeting:
1) Life Members
2) Honourary Members
3) Executive Members
4) Board of Directors
5) Interested Members of the Public Within the Jurisdiction of the Association, and not under the jurisdiction of another recognized Association.

b) There shall be no proxy votes.
c) Voting shall be by show of hands unless the meeting decides on a ballot.
d) No person shall have more than one vote.

BY-LAW V

a) Each person shall have the privilege of nominating a representative for each office of the Association, subject to the following provisions.

A person shall not be accepted for the office of President if he has not served on the Board of Directors during one (1) of the previous three (3) years.
Those To Be Elected:
1) President
2) Vice-President
3) Secretary
4) Treasurer

5) Registrar
6) Six (6) Directors
Those To Be Elected by Previous Executive:
1) Referee in Chief

Committees To Be Appointed From Board of Directors:
1) Disciplinary Committee
2) Budget Committee
3) Ways and Means Committee
4) Equipment Committee
5) Public Relations Person
6) Trophy Chairperson
7) Banquet Committee

BY-LAW VI

SUSPENSIONS AND THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

a) The President, or his official designate shall have the power to temporarily suspend any player, coach, manager or persons directly connected with hockey within the Association, for ungentlemanly conduct on or off the ice, for abusive language or infractions toward any official in respect to any incident which occurs in connection with any regularly scheduled game, any exhibition game or tournament game. It is understood that as many on-ice incidents as possible will be dealt with by the Head Referee in charge of the game. Such suspensions will remain in effect until such time as dealt with by the Disciplinary Committee who shall prepare a report to the Branch. (See By-Law VII)
b) During the temporary suspension the person suspended shall not take part in any Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association games either home or away. The player will be allowed to practice with his team. (This suspension will not include suspension from refereeing unless the Disciplinary Committee so decides.)
c) The President or his designate must, as soon as practicable, notify the suspended person and the Disciplinary Committee of the nature of the infraction and of the time and place of a meeting of the person suspended and the Disciplinary Committee to have a hearing. The hearing shall be held as soon as practicable after the infraction. It is understood that the coach of any traveling team or house league shall, within 24 hours of his return from an away game, present to the League Convener and the President a written report including a game sheet, on any infraction warranting consideration of possible suspensions for serious infractions of the C.A.H.A. rules book of behavior unbecoming a member of Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association. These infractions shall be referred to the Disciplinary Committee according to the procedure outlined in By-Law VII.

BY-LAW VII

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

a) The Disciplinary Committee shall have the right to suspend from playing and/or refereeing or discipline any player, coach, manager or persons directly connected with hockey within the Association, for ungentlemanly conduct on or off the ice, for abusive language or infractions toward any official in respect to any incident which occurs in connection with any regularly scheduled game, any exhibition game or tournament game. It is understood that as many on-ice incidents as possible will be dealt with by the Head Referee in charge of the game.
b) The Disciplinary Committee shall consist of six (6) persons: The President or his designate; the Referee in Chief or his designate; two Directors; the Convener of the Division involved or his designate and, ex-officio, the Referee in charge of the game (both if Junior Referees) and the Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association Secretary or his/her designate.
c) The Directors shall be elected by the Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association.
d) Two additional Directors shall be elected by the Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association to attend a Disciplinary Committee meeting in the place of one or both who are unable to attend or who are ineligible because one or both are manager, or coaches or parents of a player or players involved with either of the teams involved in the game in question.
e) No member of the Disciplinary Committee shall, acting as a member of the Disciplinary Committee, attend the Disciplinary Committee meeting or make recommendations to a Committee member regarding discipline if he is coach, manager or parent of one of the players of either of the teams involved in the case.
f) All members of the Committee or their alternates must be present to constitute a quorum. In the event that sufficient designates or alternates are not available in order to avoid conflict of interest as coach, manager, parent of player, referee, the President shall appoint a replacement from the Executive.

SPECIFIC DUTIES OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

a) In the case of a major penalty being assessed in a home game, the referee in charge of the game shall notify the Referee in Chief or his assistant, the Convener and the President, as soon as possible and not later than 24 hours after the infraction. The President, in consultation with the Referee in Chief, and Convener will decide whether or not there should be further consideration of the matter by the Disciplinary Committee. If the President, Convener and Referee in Chief decide that the minimum penalty as provided in the rules and regulations is sufficient, a written explanation shall be sent to the following people within 24 hours; the player and his parents, the referee in charge of the game, the Referee in Chief, and the Secretary of the Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association.

b) If either the President (or his designate) or the Referee in Chief (or his designate), or the Convener (or his designate), decides that the matter deserves further consideration, the President or his designate will notify the Disciplinary Committee, the player and his parents as soon as practicable. This notice will be followed by a written explanation to the same people and will precede by 24 hours the meeting of the Disciplinary Committee which will take place within no more than 72 hours of the infraction. (In the case of an away tournament, these time restrictions will be waived, although it is understood that the matter will be dealt with as soon as is practicable).

BY-LAW VIII

APPEALS

Any person, player, team or combination thereof, feeling aggrieved by a decision of any persons of the Executive Committees under the Constitution, regulations and rules of completion of the Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association, may appeal therefrom to the Appeal Committee.

Any appeals by any member must be accompanied by a $100.00 deposit within a 24 hour period of said incident to the Secretary. Appeals will be heard by a 3 member panel and shall follow the guide lines of the HNO appeals process.
The appeal shall be in writing addressed to the President, stating precisely the alleged aggrievement.
The President shall within 24 hours, notify the aggrieved and the F.F. M. H.A. of an appeals meeting to be held within 72 hours of receiving the appeal. At said meeting the Disciplinary Committee shall present the cause to the F.F. M.H.A. and the aggrieved will have the opportunity to present his appeal. As soon thereafter as it practicable the President shall forward, before the next meeting to the following people the decision of the F.F. M.H.A. and reasons for it: the aggrieved; the members of the Disciplinary Committee. The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be binding and shall be recorded as such.

BY-LAW IX

HONOURARY MEMBERS

a) The position of an Honourary Member is complimentary. It is a perpetual honour and does not cease upon death unless the honour is rescinded.
b) An Honourary member may attend and speak at meetings but does not have the right to make motions or vote.
c) May hold an active office within the Association while an Honourary Member.

BY-LAW X

LIFE MEMBER

Life membership is the highest honor that can be bestowed by this Association and it is awarded only for very distinctive services to the Association. Life members shall be elected by the Board of Directors by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members voting thereon. A life member shall have full voting rights at all regular and annual meetings.

BY-LAW XI

STANDING COMMITTEES
CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE
Appointed by the Executive Committee, it shall consist of three (3) members with approval to review the constitution and bring forth amendments one month prior to the annual meeting.
TROPHY AND AWARD COMMITTEE
Shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and be responsible for all Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association trophies and under the direction of the Executive Committee.
EQUIPMENT COMMITTEE
a) Shall submit a list of equipment required for each division.
b) Shall recommend the equipment needed, considering the quality and safety factor.
c) Shall advise the Association of equipment inventory, arrange for handling, storage, repair and cleaning of equipment.

BY-LAW XII

SIGNING AND MOVEMENT OF PLAYERS

a) Since the philosophy states that the players must develop within their own individual needs and abilities if the Association sees a need for restricted movement beyond the artificial classification, the restricted movement will occur under the following circumstance:
1. A player with the ability desires to play ahead of his age classification.
2. A player with the ability significantly in advance of his age classification makes the decision to play at a non-rep level.
3. A player with the ability significantly below his age classification desires to play behind his age classification.
b) The rule shall read:
1. In order for a player who has received parental consent and desires to participate in a category which in one or two above his age group, the Executive must approve the move based on the player’s overall ability.
2. In order for a player who desires to participate at the non-rep level but has abilities significantly in advance of his age group, participation will be allowed provided the player is placed in a category which is above his age classification. Movement shall be recommended by the Executive.
3. In order for a player with abilities significantly below his age group to be allowed to participate in a category one or more below his age classification, placement of the player shall be recommended and approved by the Executive.
4. Any request for movement of the above nature must be in written form to the President and made by the date indicated: Prior to January 10th.
c) A player of a representative team or house league team of a lower category may play for a team of a higher category at any time, but if the player plays more than five (5) games after January 10th with a team of higher category, the player shall remain with the higher category team for the balance of the season. However, there shall be no player movement after February 10th except for an emergency replacement.
d) In house league or tournament competition replacements may only be made up to ten (10) skaters excluding the goaltender to a total of ten (10) players per team and the replacement must come from the league of lower category. (Midget players and traveling teams are exceptions.)
e) No team shall play a player from the lower age category without the consent of the parents, convener and the player's coach.
f) No player, without the consent of his coach, may play for a team of higher category if it interferes with his own regularly scheduled game.

BY-LAW XIII

REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES

BY-LAW XIV

BY-LAW XV

BY-LAW XVI

BY-LAW XVII

BY-LAW XVIII

BY-LAW XIX

BY-LAW XX

BY-LAW XXI

BY-LAW XXII

BY-LAW XXIII

BY-LAW XXIV

BY-LAW XXV

BY-LAW XXVI

BY-LAW XXVII

BY-LAW XXVIII

BY-LAW XXIX

BY-LAW XXX

BY-LAW XXXI

BY-LAW XXXII

BY-LAW XXXIII