Southern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association
SCHPA Constitution and By-laws
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Constitution and Bylaws
The Southern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association
ARTICLE I (Preamble)
With a desire to promote the sport of horseshoe pitching, the pitchers of Southern California do hereby establish the following Constitution and Bylaws to govern all of our horseshoe pitching activities.
ARTICLE II (Name)
The name of this charter is the Southern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association (SCHPA), a charter of The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America (NHPA).
ARTICLE III (Geographical Jurisdiction)
The NHPA has granted California two charters, the SCHPA and the Northern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NCHPA). The following counties are under the jurisdiction of the SCHPA: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Kern, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, Mono, and Inyo.
ARTICLE IV (Judiciary)
*Section 1: The SCHPA Executive Board (Board) shall be the judicial body and shall define and interpret the SCHPA Constitution and Bylaws (Bylaws). Technical points shall be submitted to the Board for decision. The rulings of the Board are declared official, providing said rulings are in accordance with the NHPA. If these Bylaws conflict with NHPA, the NHPA shall take precedence.
ARTICLE V (Administration)
Section 1: The Board shall consist of a President, First Vice-President (First VP), Second Vice-President (Second VP), Third Vice-President (Third VP), Fourth Vice-President (Fourth VP), Fifth Vice-President/Statistician (Fifth VP) and a Secretary-Treasurer.
Section 2: In the event of death, resignation, or removal of an officer between elections, the President is empowered to make appointments to fill the unexpired terms. Should the Presidency become vacant, the First VP shall become President and appoint a new First VP to serve the balance of the term.
Section 3: The President shall preside at all meetings and be responsible for duties that are usually delegated to Presidents. The President shall appoint and discharge all committees.
Section 4: The First VP shall conduct the office of President in the event of the latter's inability to act and shall assist the President in his duties. The First VP is responsible for the Bylaws.
Section 5: The Second VP is responsible for publicity and promotions.
Section 6: The Third VP is responsible for the Hall of Fame.
Section 7: The Fourth VP is responsible for all awards and sponsors. *Section 8: The Fifth VP shall maintain an archive of all tournaments and lifetime statistics for all past and current members. The Fifth VP shall maintain ringer percentages and send reports to the host clubs by email.
*Section 9: The Secretary-Treasurer shall be the custodian of all records, books, correspondence, property, accounts and monies belonging to the SCHPA. He/she shall be responsible for the collection of all money due from members of the SCHPA. He/she shall furnish a complete statement of all monies received and paid out, at each Annual Meeting, or any time the Board requests. He/she shall prepare warrants and pay all bills incurred by the SCHPA. In order to simplify auditing, the accounts of the Secretary-Treasurer shall contain statements from creditors which will explain disbursements made. The Secretary/Treasurer shall maintain a mailing and email list of all horseshoe pitchers.
Section 10: All Vice-Presidents shall assist their fellow officers.
Section 11: All officers shall turn over to their successors all records and property of the SCHPA in their possession.
*Section 12: The President shall receive an annual stipend of $400. All other officers shall receive a $200 annual stipend. The Secretary-Treasurer shall also receive $1.00 per SCHPA member. The Fifth VP shall also receive 50¢ per adult entrant per tournament. SCHPA and NHPA dues of each Board member shall be paid from SCHPA funds.
Section 13: The location for next year's Annual Meeting will be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
*Section14: Annual achievement awards shall be presented by the Fifth VP at the Annual Meeting for Most Tournaments Pitched and Most Improved Pitcher in all categories when applicable. All recipients are chosen at the Fifth VP discretion.
*Section 15: Members are encouraged to propose changes and additions to the Bylaws which will be voted on at the Annual Meeting. All proposals should be received by the FirstVP before the October 1st deadline. Verbal proposals will be accepted if time permits. Proposals can only be made from the floor if majority vote to allow.
ARTICLE VI (Meetings)
Section 1: Election of officers shall occur at the Annual Meeting near the second Saturday in November. Representatives from a majority of member clubs shall constitute a quorum. In absence of a quorum, no formal action shall be taken except to adjourn the meeting. President, First VP, Third VP, and Fifth VP, are elected on even years. Secretary-Treasurer, Second VP, and Fourth VP are elected on odd years. The officers shall be elected by a majority vote of members present and will serve for two years starting at time elected.
Section 2: The Board shall be empowered to have a meeting at any time, without notice. A majority of officers present constitute a quorum. In absence of a quorum, no formal action shall be taken except to adjourn the meeting.
Section 3: At committee meetings, a majority of committee members present constitutes a quorum. In absence of a quorum, no formal action shall be taken except to adjourn the meeting.
Section 4: Meetings may follow Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised. However, these bylaws may contradict Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
ARTICLE VII (Voting)
Section 1: Only Board members may vote at Board meetings.
*Section 2: All SCHPA members for at least 60 days and in good standing may vote at the Annual Meeting.
Section 3: Only committee members may vote at committee meetings.
Section 4: Passage of a motion requires a simple majority vote. Section 5: All changes to the Bylaws require a two-thirds vote.
ARTICLE VIII (Fees and Awards)
Section 1: NHPA membership dues are $15.00 ($3.00 for juniors/cadets). NHPA also requires a liability insurance fee of $2.00 to all members. SCHPA dues are $10.00 ($1.00 for juniors/cadets). NHPA membership cards may be purchased from any officer or tournament director. Make checks payable to SCHPA for $27.00 ($6.00 for juniors/cadets.)
Section 2: Entry fee for adults at all plaque tournaments will be $8.00 (except championships, invitationals, and preregistered tournaments). Entry fee for adults at all money tournaments will be $20.00 (except championships, invitationals and preregistered tournaments). Entry fees and payments for adults at all championships, invitationals and preregistered tournaments will be the decision of the tournament committee.
Section 3: Juniors and Cadets will pay no entry fee to enter tournaments and may not receive monetary awards. They may enter money tournaments and be awarded the same as they would at a plaque tournament.
*Section 4: Host clubs shall receive $2.50 per adult entrant at all tournaments. SCHPA receives $5.50 per adult entrant at all tournaments, including the 50¢ for the Fifth VP and $1.25 for the State Championships Fund.
Section 5: For all money tournaments, $12.00 per adult entrant shall be added to the class prize fund.
*Section 6: Any club that owes SCHPA money will be required to mail 100% of all entry fees to the SCHPA Secretary-Treasurer. If the tournament is pre-registered, the entry fee will be mailed directly to the SCHPA Secretary-Treasurer. The SCHPA Secretary-Treasurer will then mail all rewards to the winners following the tournament. All postage and expenses will be added to the amount the club owes. The amount due the club will be subtracted from the amount owed. No awards, patches or plates will be delivered to the club. If the club fails to mail 100% of all entry fees to the SCHPA Secretary-Treasurer, all SCHPA tournaments at that club will be canceled until all money due SCHPA is paid in full.
ARTICLE IX (California State Horseshoe Pitching Championships)
Section 1: The SCHPA shall work in harmony with the NCHPA in the sponsoring and staging of the California State Horseshoe Pitching Championships (CSHPC.)
ARTICLE X (Southern California Horseshoe Pitching Championships)
Section 1: The Southern California Horseshoe Pitching Championships (SCHPC) will be similar to the CSHPC. The Board will serve as the tournament committee and will be free to create the best tournament possible.
Section 2: The SCHPA shall run the SCHPC and furnish all necessary paperwork. The host club shall furnish court facilities only.
Section 3: This tournament shall be preregistered and open to all NHPA members. Entries must be received three weeks prior to the tournament.
Section 4: The previous champion in each division will be seeded #1 in the championship group regardless of ringer percentage.
Section 5: The tournament location will be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
Section 6: The SCHPA is responsible for designing and buying all awards and finding plaque donors.
*Section 7: Each year $600 will be taken from the CSHPC fund and added to the SCHPC, to be used as the Board chooses. Each year $600 will also be taken from the general fund and added to the SCHPC, to be used ass the Board chooses.
Section 8: The Championship Class in the Seniors and Elders Divisions will pitch whichever comes first, forty points or fifty shoes. All other classes in the Seniors and Elders Divisions will pitch forty shoes. All classes of Cadets will pitch thirty shoes.
*Section 9: Divisions cannot be mixed and must be pitched separate regardless of the number of entrants. If only two pitchers sign up for a division, they will pitch the best 3 out of five games. If only one person signs up for a division, they will pitch 3 games of 50 shoes (30 shoes for junior or cadets) to become the division champion.
*Section 10: The payout in the championship class of all adult divisions will be the same. The winners will be paid the same, 2nd place will be paid the same, etc., without regard to the number of pitchers in each division.
ARTICLE XI (Hall of Fame)
Section 1: The Third VP will serve on the Hall of Fame Committee as a voting member of that committee.
Section 2: The Third VP will serve as Chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee.
Section 3: The Third VP will choose an even number of additional members to serve on the Hall of Fame Committee in order to create a committee with an odd number of members. The exact number to be left up to the Third VP.
Section 4: The Third VP will "actively seek" Hall of Fame nominations.
Section 5: The Third VP will receive all Hall of Fame nominations postmarked by the September 7th deadline.
Section 6: The Third VP will mail copies of all information received with nominations along with voting instructions to all committee members.
Section 7: All nominees which receive a majority of votes will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the next annual meeting.
Section 8: The Third VP will mail or email voting results to all committee members and the Board. Compiled final votes by the committee will only be shown to the committee. The Board will not be informed of the voting and will only be told the names of those to be inducted. The committee will keep the voting secret and will not discuss the voting with anyone outside of the committee.
Section 9: Officers will not have a vote unless they are on the Hall of Fame Committee and the Board will not limit the number inducted.
Section 10: All nominations and nomination information presented to the Third VP should be typed and should be stated as such on all applications or other material about nominations. Section 11: No nominee will be carried over to the next year. The committee can only vote on nominees received during the year of voting.
ARTICLE XII (Tournament Rules)
Section 1: All SCHPA tournaments are sanctioned by the NHPA and require NHPA membership. All SCHPA Tournament Directors are required to be NHPA members.
Section 2: A member may be suspended for: (1) Nonpayment of dues or fees; (2) Playing under an assumed name; (3) conduct unbecoming a member; (4) directly or indirectly betting on a contestant, or self; (5) leaving competition or forfeiting a game without permission of the tournament director or without good reason; and (6) Not showing up on the second day of a two day tournament.
Section 3: No member shall be suspended until given a fair trial before the Board. For all but the first of the above violations, a member may be suspended from all SCHPA activities for one year. Members suspended for nonpayment of dues shall be reinstated upon payment of their dues.
Section 4: Local Clubs may request SCHPA tournaments. They will be considered the Host Club. *Section 5: Host club must submit in writing their request for tournament dates for the following year to the Secretary-Treasurer by September 1st. Their request must include tournament type, i.e., singles or doubles, money or plaque, pre-entry or open, and must include a designated Tournament Director's name, address and phone number. All club presidents and point of contacts shall be SCHPA & NHPA members. Clubs shall furnish a list of officers, point of contact and tournament director to the SCHPA Secretary-Treasurer and President. Info shall consist of position, name, phone #, address and email address. Clubs also shall notify the SCHPA who can make commitments on club behalf.
Section 6: The Host Club must prepare courts prior to tournament date. Pitchers are responsible for maintenance on the tournament date.
*Section 7: The Host Club must check scoresheets, keep accurate records (Class finishing order, W/L, HG, Ringers, Shoes) and submit a neat, accurate summary of the tournament to the Fifth VP immediately following the tournament by email.
Section 8: The Host Club or Tournament Director shall collect entry fees, distribute awards and forward summary sheet and fees to Secretary-Treasurer within three calendar days following tournament.
Section 9: No Host Club will be reimbursed costs from the SCHPA for Park/Facility fees or advertising except for the CSHPC and the SCHPC.
*Section 10: Tournament Directors are responsible to have a current NATSTATS averages and Tournament Rules. Each Club is responsible to have copies available. Email requests may be made to the Fifth VP for averages or membership at any time.
*Section 11: All groups at all tournaments (except SCHPC) will be the Tournament Director's discretion to make the best groups when there are less than 8 pitchers in the tournament. If less than two pitchers show up for a tournament, the tournament will be canceled.
Section 12: Prize money from entry fees will be distributed equally on a per player, per class basis. Donated or added money will be distributed as instructed by donor.
Section 13: Decisions relative to situations arising in the direction of tournaments which are not specifically covered by SCHPA and NHPA are the responsibility of the Tournament Director, with the approval of any SCHPA officer who may be present.
*Section 14: Pitchers must check in with the tournament director and pay entry fee 30 minutes or more prior to tournament starting time listed on published schedule. First, the pitchers will be grouped by division to see if one or more competitive groups within each division can be formed. If competitive groups within divisions are not possible, mixed groups will be used. Pitchers will be seeded from high to low percentage and placed in groups.
Section 15: Tournaments may not begin before the published time on the schedule.
Section 16: All SCHPA tournaments will be handicapped in any group if ringer percentage is 8% or more between the top seeded pitcher and the bottom seed of any given group. Handicap is per NHPA Sanctioned Club/League Program guidelines, which is based on 80% handicap.
Section 17: Any tournament which is rained out may be made up. The schedule must be reviewed, and the new date must not conflict with a neighboring club. Efforts to inform the Board and pitchers of the change will include email.
Section 18: When a tournament is rained out and 100 shoes have been completed, won and loss record will determine the winners. All ties will be decided by percentage in scratch groups and total points in handicapped groups. If play is canceled before 100 shoes are completed, refunds of the entry fee will be made, less $1.00 to be paid to SCHPA.
Section 19: No announcements may be made on public address systems or bull horns while competition is in progress. All announcements and drawings must be made before the start of tournament or after all pitching has stopped.
Section 20: Pitchers will pay their scorekeepers 50¢ before the beginning of each game at all tournaments.
Section 21: No Smoking or alcoholic beverages are allowed on the courts during tournaments. Cell phones will only be allowed within 100 feet of the courts when set to vibrate and must not be allowed to ring. Courts are defined as inside the fenced area.
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