Southern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association (SCHPA)

SCHPA Constitution and By-laws

2008 Constitution and Bylaws
The Southern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association

Revised November 10, 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS	Article	Page
PREAMBLE		2
NAME	I	2
GEOGRAPHICAL JURISDICTION	II	2
DELEGATES	III	2
ADMINISTRATION	IV	3
Officers, Vacancies, Executive, Board, Election of Officers
JUDICIARY	V	4
Duties, Committees, Voting, Horseshoes, and Equipment
AMENDMENTS	VI	6
BYLAWS	VII	6
Decisions and Appeals, Suspensions, Team-Play, Amateur Regulations, Forfeits, Dues
TOURNAMENT RULES	VIII	9
Check-In, Groupings, Juniors, Format, Rain-Out, Attire, Scoring, Sportsmanship, Miscellaneous, SCHPA 30 & 40 Foot Championships

Note: * Indicates items voted-in by membership at the 11/11/07 meeting in Burbank.

PREAMBLE
Recognizing the fact that the sport of horseshoe pitching is a wholesome, healthy, enjoyable, competitive recreation, favorable to all persons, at a cost comparable to that of other sports, and with a desire to promote more player-interest among the clubs and pitchers throughout this section of our State, we, the pitchers of Southern California do hereby establish the following Constitution and Bylaws to govern our playing activities.

ARTICLE I (Name)
Section 1: The name of this charter shall be The Southern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association, a charter of The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America.

ARTICLE II (Geographical Jurisdiction)
Section 1: The State of California has been granted two charters: The Southern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association (SCHPA) and The Northern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NCHPA). The following counties are under the jurisdiction of the Southern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association (SCHPA): San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Kern, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, Mono, and Inyo.

ARTICLE III (Delegates)
Section 1: The Southern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association is entitled to one or more delegates to the National Convention. Said delegates shall be duly appointed, or elected, to represent the membership of this Association. Such duly authorized delegates shall bear written credentials from either the President or Secretary-Treasurer and will vote as instructed by the President of the Southern California Association.

Section 2: The Southern California Association shall work in harmony with The Northern California Association in the sponsoring and staging of the California State Championship Horseshoe Pitching Tournament (See Article VII of the NHPA By-Laws).
Section 3: To be eligible to pitch in the California State Championships, NHPA members must have pitched in at least three sanctioned singles tournaments in California (August 1 to July 31) and have resided in the State for at least 60 days.
Section 4: Any point not covered in the foregoing articles of this Constitution and Bylaws, and those of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association, may be decided upon by the officials (Executive Council) of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America.

ARTICLE IV (Administration)
Section 1: The officers of this Association shall consist of a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President, Fourth Vice-President, Fifth Vice-President/Statistician and a Secretary-Treasurer.
Section 2: The duly elected officials consisting of a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President, Fourth Vice-President, Fifth Vice-President/Statistician and a Secretary-Treasurer shall be the Executive Board of the organization. The current elected board shall be empowered to transact all such business as they deem necessary to promote the horseshoe pitching sport, providing such action is not contrary to the Constitution and Bylaws of this Association.
Section 3: The President shall receive an annual stipend of $250.00. All other elected officers shall receive a $100.00 stipend annually. The Secretary-Treasurer shall receive $1.00 per SCHPA member. The Fifth Vice-President/Statistician shall receive $.50 per entrant per tournament. State and National dues of each Executive Board member shall be paid from SCHPA funds. Host clubs shall receive $2.50 per entrant at sanctioned singles and doubles tournaments. SCHPA receives $4.50 per entrant for money tournaments and $5.50 per entrant for plaque tournaments, including the $.50 for the Statistician.
*Section 4: 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 $13.00 (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. Juniors and Cadets (as defined by the NHPA) will pay no entry fee to enter SCHPA tournaments. Section 5: Election of officers shall occur at the regular annual meeting of the Association on or near the first Sunday of November of each year. Said officers shall serve for two years, or until their successors are duly elected and installed. The officers shall be elected by a majority vote of members present and voting.
Section 6: Clubs wishing to host the Annual Meeting for the next year must present in writing, their proposal to the First Vice President 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting. The proposal shall include all costs associated with hosting said meeting to either SCHPA or it's attending members. The proposal shall define hours, capacity, and any amenities. The location for next year's meeting will be voted on by the general membership at the Annual Meeting.
Section 7: In the event of death, resignation, or removal of an officer or committeeman between elections, the President is empowered to make appointments to fill the unexpired terms, said appointment to be subject to the approval by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board. Should the Presidency become vacant due to any one of the above reasons, the First Vice-President shall become President. A new First Vice-President may either be appointed by the new President or elected by the membership to serve the balance of the term.
Section 8: Offices of the President, First Vice-President, Third Vice-President, and Fifth Vice-President/Statistician, are elected on even years, and Secretary-Treasurer, Second Vice-President, and Fourth Vice-President are elected on odd years. *Section 9: Annual achievement awards shall be presented at the Annual Meeting for most improved player and most tournaments entered for an entire year. The most improved player award shall be determined by ringer percentage improvement during the year and shall be awarded to a player in each of the following four (4) categories:

A. Open Men (40 feet)
B. Elder/Medical Exemption Men (30 feet)
C. Women
D. Juniors/Cadets

ARTICLE V (Judiciary)
Section 1: All pitching horseshoes and equipment used by the Association shall be of the brands approved by the NHPA.
Section 2: The President shall preside at all meetings and shall conduct the meetings in an orderly manner according to Parliamentary Procedure as laid down by Robert's Rules of Order. He/she shall appoint and discharge all committees and otherwise be responsible for such duties as are usually delegated to Presidents. The President must contact all Club Presidents on any NHPA Bylaw, rules and/or elections before he or officers give any delegates the way to vote.
Section 3: The First Vice-President shall conduct the office of President in the event of the latter's inability to act and shall otherwise assist the President in his duties.
Section 4: The Vice-Presidents shall assist their fellow officers.
Section 5: The Secretary-Treasurer shall be the custodian of the records, books, correspondence, property, accounts and monies belonging to the Association. He/she shall be charged with the responsibility of collection of all money due from the members of the Association. He/she shall be made Chairman of the Finance Committee and shall furnish a complete statement of all monies received and paid out, at each annual meeting, or any time the Executive Board demands. He/she shall prepare warrants and pay all bills incurred by this Association. He/she shall, together with the President, obtain official NHPA sanctions and championship certificates or patches for all official Southern California tournaments. He/she shall notify the members of all meetings and any playing activities. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be custodian of funds raised for the purpose of financing State Championships held under the jurisdiction of the Southern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association. For this purpose an account shall be opened in a bank or other depository where such funds may earn interest. The Auditing Committee, appointed by the President, shall have charge of the Secretary-Treasurer. In order to simplify auditing, the accounts of the Secretary-Treasurer shall contain statements from creditors which will explain disbursements made. The Secretary/Treasurer or informed representative will be required to attend the Annual Meeting in order to answer questions in regards to the Financial Statement. He/She shall maintain a mailing list of current SCHPA members.
Section 6: The Fifth Vice-President/Statistician shall maintain a record of lifetime stats for all members. He/she shall distribute current ringer percentages to scheduled Host Clubs and Executive Board, and verify individual percentages and tournaments pitched with Host charter of the State Tournament.
Section 7: The Fifth Vice-President/Statistician shall, on a quarterly basis, publish the top 50 horseshoe pitchers by rank in the SCHPA membership.
Section 8: A recording Secretary, appointed by the President, shall keep the minutes of all meetings of this Association. Section 9: All officers shall turn over to their successors in office all records and property of the Association that may be in their possession. All of the officers and committeemen, working together shall at all times endeavor to promote harmony and goodwill with the Association.
Section 10:

A. The SCHPA 3rd Vice President will serve on the Hall of Fame Committee as a voting member of that committee.
B. The SCHPA 3rd Vice President will serve as Chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee.
C. The SCHPA 3rd Vice President will choose an "even" number of additional members to serve on the Hall of Fame Committee. Even meaning an additional 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. members in order to create a committee with an odd number of members. The exact number to be left up to the SCHPA 3rd Vice President.
D. The SCHPA 3rd Vice President will "actively seek" Hall of Fame nominations.
E. The SCHPA 3rd Vice President will receive all Hall of Fame nominations postmarked by the September 7th deadline.
F. The SCHPA 3rd Vice President will mail copies of all information received with nominations along with voting instructions to all committee members.
G. All nominees which receive a majority of votes (more than 50%) will be inducted into the SCHPA Hall of Fame at the next annual meeting.
I. The SCHPA 3rd Vice President will mail voting results to all committee members and all executive board members.
J. The SCHPA executive board will not have a vote unless they are on the Hall of Fame Committee and will not limit the number of persons inducted.
K. Compiled final votes by the committee will only be shown to the committee. The SCHPA executive 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.
L. All nominations and nomination information presented to the 3rd Vice President should be typed and should be stated as such on all applications or other material about nominations.
M. No nominee will be carried over to the next year. The committee can only vote on nominees received during the year of voting. Section 11: The following committees shall be appointed by the President, from the members of the Association: Constitution and Bylaws, Membership, Auditing and Finance, Grievance, Credentials, Publicity, Resolution, or any committee the President deems available.

Section 12: It shall be the duty of all committees to serve willingly, in the best interest of the Association.
Section 13: Voting shall be by ballot, rising vote, or ayes and nays, according to the discretion of the Chairman (President). A member must be present in person to have voting power.
Section 14: The new officers shall take office as soon as elected. The officers may call a meeting at any time they deem advisable.
Section 15: Authorized representatives from a majority of member clubs shall constitute a quorum.
Section 16: All sentences starting with "He" shall include "He/she."

ARTICLE VI (Amendments)
Section 1: This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present at the annual meeting. All proposed changes must be submitted to the designated SCHPA officer in written form at least 60 days prior to the annual membership meeting. The proposals will be reviewed and distributed to all local club presidents 30 days prior to the annual meeting. In addition, a concerted effort must be made to inform other members not involved with a local club.

ARTICLE VII (Bylaws)
Section 1: The Executive Board shall be the Judicial Body, and shall define and interpret the Constitution and Bylaws. Technical points shall be submitted to it for decision. The ruling(s) of the Executive Board are declared official, providing said ruling(s) are in accordance with the laws of this Association and those of the NHPA.
Section 2: In the event that a member is dissatisfied with the rulings and interpretations of certain specific points, as laid down by the Executive Board of the Southern California Association, he may appeal his case to the National Executive Council. The rulings and interpretations of the National Council are considered as final.
Section 3: The interpretation of the tournament committee covering technical points and their ruling on matters not covered by these rules shall be final. All protests shall be made immediately as the occasion arises. Protests covering shoes or conditions of play can only be made before the start of a game to the Tournament Director and any Executive Board member present.
Section 4: Players entering tournament play without a record will be seeded by SCHPA officials on as fair a basis as they are able to determine. If on no other basis they will be permitted to qualify by pitching 100 shoes prior to entry deadline.
Section 5: A member may be suspended for: (1) Nonpayment of dues or fees; (2) Willfully violating the Constitution and Bylaws; (3) Playing under an assumed name, or being found guilty of fraud, fixing games, or other conduct unbecoming a member; (4) For directly or indirectly betting on a contestant, or self, when an entry in the competition; (5) For using unsanctioned pitching shoes in a tournament; (6) Leaving competition or forfeiting a game without permission of the tournament director; and (7) Not showing up on the second day of a two day tournament.
Section 6: No member shall be suspended until given a fair trial before the members of the Executive Board. For all but the first of the above violations, a member may be suspended from all official playing activities for one year. Members suspended for nonpayment of dues shall be reinstated upon payment of their dues.
Section 7: Team play between member clubs may be conducted with permission of the SCHPA executive board and will follow the executive board's guidelines.
Section 8: A pitcher may miss any number of games due to illness or other legitimate reason and still be permitted to return to competition. If a pitcher forfeits for an unapproved reason, the pitcher will not be allowed to return to competition and will forfeit all prize money and awards. A pitcher may be suspended for forfeiting without a good reason. Any person who forfeits games shall finish wherever his/her record puts him/her in the standings unless he/she forfeits for unapproved reasons. They then finish last.
Section 9: National membership dues are $10.00 ($3.00 for juniors). State dues are $10.00 ($1.00 for juniors). Liability insurance fee of $2.00 to all members. Newsline subscription: to all members or nonmembers $12.00 per year.
Section 10: All SCHPA tournaments are sanctioned. National Horseshoe Pitchers Association cards are required to enter competition. Membership cards may be purchased from the SCHPA Secretary. Make checks payable to the Southern California Horseshoe Association (SCHPA).
Section 11: Rules not covered, NHPA rules will be used.
Section 12: Local Clubs that have approved NHPA sanctioned courts may request SCHPA sanctioned tournaments. They will be considered the Host Club and will assume the following responsibilities:

A. Host club must submit, in writing their request for tournament dates for the following year by September 1 to the designated officer. 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.
B. No SCHPA tournament will be scheduled without the prior signature approval of the local club President and Secretary-Treasurer.
C. The Host Club must prepare courts just prior to tournament date. Players are responsible for maintenance during play.
D. The Host Club must arrange for scorekeepers, or a means of keeping score, if a shortage of scorekeepers is anticipated.
E. The Host Club must check scoresheets and keep accurate records of play of each group and submit a neat, accurate summary of the tournament to the SCHPA Fifth Vice President/Statistician immediately following the tournament date.
F. The Host Club or Tournament Director shall collect entry fees, distribute prize money/trophies, and forward summary sheet and fees to SCHPA Secretary/Treasurer within three calendar days following tournament.
G. No Host Club will be reimbursed costs from the SCHPA for Park/Facility fees or advertising except for the California State Championships and Southern California Championships.

Section 13: Clubs will only be reimbursed costs submitted and approved by SCHPA Membership for park or facility fees, or advertising. This excludes State and S.C.H.P.A. Championships tournaments which will be voted on through the Executive Board.
Section 14: Tournament Directors will be provided with updated rules and pitcher's averages.
*Section 15: All groups or classes at all SCHPA tournaments (except championships) will have 4 or more pitchers unless there are less than 4 pitchers in the tournament. In that case all the pitchers will be in one group. If less than two pitchers show up for a tournament, the tournament will be canceled.

ARTICLE VIII (Tournament Rules)
Section 1: The Constitution, Bylaws and Playing Rules of this charter (SCHPA) shall in no way conflict with the Constitution, Bylaws and Playing Rules of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America (NHPA). In cases of conflict, the rules of the NHPA shall prevail.
Section 2: All official tournaments, team matches and playing activities of this (SCHPA) charter must be officially sanctioned by the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA). Section 3: Decisions relative to situations arising in the direction of SCHPA tournaments which are not specifically covered in these published rules are the responsibility of the Tournament Director, and with the approval of any SCHPA officer who may be present.
Section 4: The winners of all tournaments, and classes, shall be acknowledged as the champions of the respective tournaments and classes. Tournament champions shall receive a NHPA Champion patch (badge) as provided from the Secretary of the NHPA.
*Section 5: Cadets and Juniors may not directly receive monetary awards. It shall be the responsibility of each junior/cadet player to make certain their participation in SCHPA tournaments does not jeopardize their amateur standing in sports and activities in which they might be interested. All Cadets and Juniors will be rewarded with plaques at all "money" tournaments unless they already have one.
Section 6: Only new, unused trophies or plaques may be awarded at SCHPA tournaments.
Section 7: Short distance pitchers may compete in all tournaments against long distance pitchers of their percentage class, except in the California State Championships and the Southern California Championships. Section 8: Singles competition will normally be 40 point cancellation in the higher percentage groups. However, if two sessions are played, shoes games (50, 40, etc) may be used in all groups.
Section 9: Players who check in 30 minutes or more prior to tournament starting time (listed on published schedule) will be seeded from high to low percentage and placed in groups. If court facilities will not allow all entrants to participate in the initial session, an additional session will be scheduled. Pitchers arriving after the check-in deadline who have averages higher than the lowest percentage pitcher grouped in the first session may not enter, because their proper percentage group has already been formed. Remember: You must check in with the Tournament Director at least 30 minutes before starting time! Players will personally pay their scorekeepers 50 cents before the beginning of each game.
Section 10: Tournaments may not begin before the published time on the schedule.
Section 11: The cancellation system of scoring may be used at all tournaments. The total-point system and the ringers only scoring to be optional scoring at all but championship events and NHPA guidelines must be followed.
Section 12: Pitchers averages will be based on the current method used for calculating ringer percentages by NHPA.
Section 13: All tournaments, except SCHPA Championships which may be handicapped in any group if ringer percentage is greater than 10%, will be handicapped if the ringer percentage is eight percent or more between the top seeded player and the bottom seed of any given group. Handicap is per NHPA Sanctioned Club/League Program guidelines, which is based on 80% handicap.
Section 14: If two or more pitchers tie for first place, there should be a playoff. However, if time does not permit, the Tournament Director may opt to decide ties by percentage, who beat who, or if handicap, by total points. The format is to be announced prior to the start of the tournament.
*Section 15: All contestants shall be properly attired at all times on the courts. This is to include appropriate clothing (shirt, blouse, sweater, shorts, slacks, etc) and footwear (shoes, boots). Open toed shoes are not acceptable attire.
Section 16: Any tournament which is rained out or canceled for any reason will not be made up. If three games have been completed, won and loss record will determine the winners; percentage or points will break ties. If play is canceled before the required games are completed, refund of entry fee will be made, less $1.00.
Section 17:

A. No alcoholic beverages are allowed on the courts during Southern California sanctioned tournaments. Courts are defined as inside the fenced area.
B. Smoking will not be allowed on the pitching platforms or walkways during SCHPA sanctioned tournaments.
C. Cell phones will be allowed on the courts and set to vibrate during Southern California sanctioned tournaments for emergency use only.

Section 18: The material in the pit shall be watered (if necessary) and leveled by the contestants before a game begins. (Contestants may have someone do this job for them.) During a contest, contestants cannot mash or move the material around the stake and the material cannot be shoveled unless approved by a tournament official. The only exception to this rule is for courts with sand or sandy loam material. They may be leveled, as needed throughout the course of the contest.
Section 19: No contestant shall touch his/her shoes or opponents shoes until the winner of points has been agreed upon by both contestants or a decision rendered by the referee. The referee shall declare shoes thrown by a contestant to be foul, if said contestant does not comply with the above rule. Points are awarded to the opponent according to the position of his/her shoes.
Section 20: No player may indulge in actions, words, or phrases, disturbing to his opponent, nor will profane or abusive language, by any member of the Association be permitted upon the tournament grounds. (See Article VII, Sections 5 and 6, Suspension for violations)
Section 21: No contestant, while an opponent is in pitching position shall make any remarks not utter any sounds within hearing of an opponent, nor make any movement that might interfere with an opponent's pitching. Any player repeating rule violations, or who is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct may be barred from further competition in the contest.
Section 22: Pitchers changing distance must pitch in at least three SCHPA singles tournaments at the new distance before entering any championship or preregistered tournament.
Section 23: Pitchers changing distance from 40 ft. to 30 ft. may not enter tournaments with a qualification or average lower than their 40 ft. Average until they have a SCHPA listed average based on three or more SCHPA singles tournaments at 30 ft.
Section 24: No pitcher is allowed to carry any firearm, large knife or weapon of any kind while pitching in a SCHPA tournament even if they have a permit and are required to carry a firearm at all times. Any pitcher found to be carrying a firearm, large knife or weapon of any kind while pitching in a SCHPA tournament will lose their SCHPA membership for no less than twelve months.
*Section 25: There shall be a Southern California Championships tournament held around the end of the calendar year. This tournament will be similar to the California State Championships tournament. The executive board of the SCHPA will serve as the tournament committee and will be free to create the best tournament possible.

*A. A pitcher must have pitched in at least three SCHPA sanctioned tournaments, or if an associate member of SCHPA the pitcher must have pitched in at least five SCHPA singles tournaments.
B. The SCHPA shall run the Southern California Championships and furnish all necessary paperwork needed including scoresheets, round robin cards, etc. The host club shall furnish court facilities only.
*C. The tournament shall be a preregister tournament. Entries must be received three weeks prior to tournament. The tournament format will depend on number of entries received and court availability.
D. The previous years A champion in each championship division will be seeded #1 in the championship group regardless of ringer percentage, as long as they qualify for that group.
E. To determine tournament location, requests will be accepted from all interested local clubs. These requests will be reviewed by the SCHPA Executive Board, and final site selection will be made at the Annual Meeting.
F. The Host Club shall forward to each member club and have available at least 60 days in advance of tournament date, entry forms for members use.
G. All pitchers entering the tournament must have a current membership card in the SCHPA.
H. All interested clubs will submit to Executive Board their desire to host the California State Championships or the Southern California Championships 90 days prior to annual board meeting. The Board will present these requests to those in attendance at the annual meeting for vote. In order for proper planning all requests must be for 2 years in the future (i.e., 2000 meeting will have request for 2002 California State Championships and 2002 Southern California Championships.)
I. Brass plates will be distributed for all SCHPA championship class awards in addition to cloth badge. If a non-plaque tournament, the recipient may elect to purchase a plaque at cost from the organization.
J. For the Southern California Championships tournament and the California State Championships tournament, when held in the SCHPA Charter, all entries and monies will be sent to the designated person that is setting up, scheduling, and coordinating the tournament. That person will then forward the monies and an accounting to the Secretary-Treasurer or deposit the monies directly into the Association's account.
K. The SCHPA Tournament Director may have a Men and Women Walking Double Championship and a Mixed Doubles Championship. Teams cannot be over 100% averages. This is to be held at the SCHPA Championship Tournament.
L. The SCHPA is responsible for designing and buying all plaques. The SCHPA is responsible for finding plaque donors.
M. Each year $600 will be taken from the California State Championships fund and added to the Southern California Championships to be used as required by the SCHPA officers.
*N. The Championship Class in the Elders Division will play fifty shoes or forty points, whatever comes first at the SCHPA Championships.

Section 26: No unnecessary announcements may be made on public address systems or bull horns while competition is in progress. All announcements should be made before the start of play and after play has stopped. No drawings of any sort may be announced until after the last shoe has been thrown. However, the numbers may be posted for all to read at any time.
*Section 27: When playing a game and the group is handicapped and it ends in a tie, it remains a tie, ½ win and ½ loss for each player. If group is scratch, they will go down and back until the tie is broken, time constraints permitting.
Section 28: Any group with one or more pitchers with an average under 30% will play cancellation or count all points.
Section 29: When a pitcher requests to move up to 30 feet and is under seventy years old, the pitcher must fill out The Medical Exemption Request Form (M-1-10-04). This new form must be turned in at the same time a New Membership card is requested. All pitchers that are 30 foot pitchers now (2005 and back) will be grandfathered in.

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Hal Griswold

Southern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association

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