Incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, March 28, 1990.
Amended November 13, 1991
Amended and Restated April 8, 1993
Amended January 12, 1995 and October 26, 2005.
Incorporated under the laws of the State of Connecticut, November 30, 2009.
Revised February 12, 2015
Article One—NAME
The name of this corporation is The CONNY Youth Lacrosse Association, Inc. (formerly the Connecticut-New York Youth Lacrosse Association), which does business as CONNY Lacrosse (hereinafter CONNY).
Article Two—PURPOSE
CONNY’s primary purpose is to promote the game of lacrosse in a safe and sportsmanlike environment.
Article Three—MEMBERSHIP
Membership in CONNY shall be open to any amateur, community-based youth lacrosse organization which is not-for-profit, maintains an open membership, is voluntarily and primarily concerned with the promotion of the game of lacrosse as set forth and specified in these Bylaws, and is located in Connecticut or a state bordering on Connecticut.
Specifically, an organization sponsoring a youth lacrosse program may be a member of CONNY if it meets the following conditions:
The organization must agree to promote the game of lacrosse among youth in a safe and sportsmanlike environment.
The organization must be not-for-profit.
The organization must have open registration. Registration must allow for participation regardless of sex, race, creed, color, or religion.
No player may be paid for his or her participation in the organization whether the same be money or other valuable consideration.
The organization must pay on a current basis all CONNY dues, assessments, and fees.
The organization must maintain an appropriate liability insurance policy which minimum standards are set by the Board of Directors. (The current minimum standard is 100% player and coach membership in US Lacrosse.)
The organization must select a representative of the organization to be a member of the CONNY Board of Directors.
The organization must abide by and follow all CONNY Bylaws and Rules & Regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors.
The organization must be based upon, and draw its players from, a discrete, geographically contiguous community, such as a city or town, that does not overlap the territory of an existing CONNY member. In the event that any or all of a community seeking to start a new program falls within the geographic territory of an existing CONNY member, a clear geographic boundary, such as a town line or school district border, must be established between the programs.
Application for new membership must be made in writing to the Board of Directors, which may consider such application at any properly scheduled meeting of the Board. Acceptance or rejection of such application shall be decided by a simple fifty-one percent majority (51%) of the members attending or represented by proxy. Members are not required to renew membership.
Article Four—BOARD OF DIRECTORS
There shall be a Board of Directors of CONNY consisting of one representative from each CONNY member organization. Each member organization shall be entitled to one vote whenever a vote of the Board of Directors is conducted.
Each elected officer of CONNY shall be a member of the Board of Directors and be entitled to one vote whenever a vote of the Board of Directors is conducted, except as provided in Article Eleven, Paragraph 5 of these Bylaws.
Each organization of lacrosse officials that regularly provides officials for CONNY games will have one representative on the CONNY Board of Directors. These Directors shall not be entitled to a vote.
Article Five—DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall conduct and transact the business of CONNY. The Board shall be the sole governing body of CONNY except as otherwise provided herein.
The Board shall represent CONNY and shall have the power to amend the Bylaws, Rules, and Regulations to further the purpose of CONNY.
The Board shall elect a President, one or more Vice Presidents, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Board of Directors may elect other officers from time to time as needed.
Article Six—MEETINGS
Annual Meeting: The annual meeting of CONNY each year shall be the January meeting of the Board of Directors, held at such time and place as the Board of Directors may determine. At least seven (7) days before the date of the annual meeting, the Secretary shall send notice of the time and place of the meeting to the designated representative of every member in good standing at his or her address as it appears in the CONNY membership roll book.
Regular Meetings: Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held each month from January through May and in the Fall in either October, November; or December (the Fall Meeting), at such time and place as the Board of Directors may determine. For the purposes of this Bylaw, meetings of either the Girls Division or the Boys Division may qualify as a regular meeting of the Board of Directors. At least seven (7) days before the date of a regular meeting, the Secretary shall send notice of the time and place of the meeting to the designated representative of every member in good standing at his or her address as it appears in the CONNY membership roll book.
Special Meetings: Special meetings of the full Board of Directors, the Girls Division, or the Boys Division may be called by the President when he or she deems it in the best interest of the organization. In addition, at the request of at least two (2) members of the Executive Committee or one third (1/3) of the members of the Board of Directors, the President shall call a special meeting. At least seven (7) days before the date of a special meeting, the Secretary shall send notice of the time and place of the meeting to the designated representative of every member in good standing at his or her address as it appears in the CONNY membership roll book.
Quorum: The presence or representation by proxy of not less than forty (40%) percent of the members shall constitute a quorum and shall be necessary to conduct the business of this organization. A meeting in which there is no quorum may be adjourned for a period of not more than three (3) weeks from the date scheduled and the secretary shall cause a notice of this scheduled meeting to be sent to all those members who were not present at the meeting originally called. A quorum as hereinbefore set forth shall be required at any adjourned meeting.
Attendance: Regular meetings and special meetings may be attended either in person, by conference call, or by use of another appropriate electronic conference capability. The conference call and electronic conference options do not apply to the Annual Meeting and the Fall Meeting.
Article Seven—VOTING
Each member organization and elected officer shall be entitled to one vote whenever a vote of the Board of Directors is conducted.
Proxies Voting: A member program representative who is unable to attend a meeting of the Board of Directors may assign proxy votes on behalf of their program in two ways.
The representative may assign a general proxy vote on behalf of their program to the CONNY President, or in the President’s absence, the presiding officer at that meeting, who shall cast the proxy vote at his or her sole discretion.
The representative may assign an instructed proxy vote on a specific matter before the Board to the Secretary, or in the Secretary’s absence, the President or presiding officer at that meeting, who shall cast the vote on behalf of the member program.
The Executive Committee, at its discretion, may choose to implement an electronic/digital voting system. If this option is available, the representative may cast a vote through the system and it will be counted as a proxy vote under this Article. Voting through this system would also count as attendance under the definition of Article Six, Paragraph 5.
All assignments of proxy voting shall be in writing and delivered to the CONNY Secretary prior to the start of the meeting the representative cannot attend.
Except as otherwise provided herein, all votes of the Board of Directors shall be decided by a simple fifty-one percent (51%) majority of the members attending or represented by proxy.
At all meetings, all votes shall be by voice, except that any questions may be voted upon by ballot if a fifty-one percent (51%) majority of the members attending or represented by proxy so requires.
In the event of a ballot vote, ballots shall be provided and there shall not appear any place on such ballot any mark or marking that might tend to indicate the person who cast such ballot. At any votes by ballot the chairman of the meeting shall immediately prior to the commencement of balloting appoint a committee of three who shall act as “Inspectors of Election” and who shall at the conclusion of such balloting certify in writing to the chairperson the results and the certified copy shall be physically affixed in the minute book to the minutes of that meeting. No “Inspector of Election” shall be a candidate for the office or shall be personally interested in the questions voted upon.
In the event that a particular member is deemed in violation of the Bylaws, Rules, or Regulations of CONNY, the membership may move to suspend that member’s voting privileges. Further, any member which is not current in its dues as set forth in these Bylaws shall not be entitled to cast a vote for any reason whatsoever at a meeting of the Board of Directors. However, a seventy-five percent (75%) majority of the members attending or represented by proxy who are not delinquent in dues may elect to permit the delinquent member to vote on a particular question or questions.
Article Eight—ORDER OF BUSINESS
The following order of business may be changed from time to time at the discretion of the President.
Roll call
Reading of the minutes of the preceding meeting
Reports of the officers
Reports of committees
Old and unfinished business
New business
Good and welfare
Adjournment
Article Nine—OFFICERS
CONNY shall have the following officers: President, three or more Vice Presidents (Vice-President—Competition, Vice President—Girls League Play, and the Vice President—Boys League Play), Treasurer, and Secretary. The Board of Directors may elect other officers from time to time as needed.
Article Ten—DUTIES OF OFFICERS
President: The President shall preside at all meetings. The President shall appoint all officers and committees not required to be elected. The President shall submit an annual report to the Board of Directors at its annual meeting. The President shall serve a one-year term with elections to be conducted at the Fall Meeting to be held in October, November, or December of each and every year. A President may serve one or more consecutive terms so long as he/she is duly elected by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of members attending or represented by proxy at the Fall Meeting. The President shall have the authority to execute checks, which must also be executed by the Treasurer.
Vice-Presidents: The Vice Presidents shall perform such duties as may be delegated to them by the President. The Vice-President—Competition shall succeed to the powers of the President in his/her absence. The Vice-Presidents shall serve a one-year term with elections to be conducted at the Fall Meeting to be held in October, November, or December of each and every year. A Vice-President may serve one or more consecutive terms so long as he/she is duly elected by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of members attending or represented by proxy at the Fall Meeting. A Vice-President shall have the authority to execute checks, which must also be executed by the Treasurer.
Secretary: The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of meetings of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee; file any certificate required by any statute, federal or state; keep an accurate roll of all members of the organization; give and serve all notices to members of the organization; be the official custodian of the records and seal of the organization; present to the membership at any meetings any communication addressed to the secretary of the organization; attend to all correspondence of the organization; and exercise all duties incident to the office of secretary. The Secretary shall serve a one-year term with election to be conducted at the Fall Meeting to be held in October, November, or December of each and every year. A Secretary may serve one or more consecutive terms so long as he/she is duly elected by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of members attending or represented by proxy at the Fall Meeting. The Secretary shall have the authority to execute checks, which must also be executed by the Treasurer.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have charge of all monies received of CONNY and shall keep a specific, detailed, and accurate accounting of income and expenditures. The Treasurer shall submit a statement of the financial status of CONNY at each and every Board of Directors meeting and as the President may direct. The Treasurer must sign any and all checks distributed by CONNY. The Treasurer shall serve a one-year term with election to be conducted at the Fall Meeting to be held in October, November, or December of each and every year. A Treasurer may serve one or more consecutive terms so long as he/she is duly elected by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of members attending or represented by proxy at the Fall Meeting.
No officer or director shall for reason of the office be entitled to receive any salary or compensation, but nothing herein shall be construed to prevent an officer or director from receiving any compensation from the organization for duties other than as a director or officer.
Article Eleven—EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of CONNY, plus the immediate past president (and any other past president or president emeritus, at the current president’s discretion).
The Executive Committee shall be responsible for executing the policies set by the Board of Directors and for carrying out the functions of the Board between meetings of the Board. It shall normally carry out its duties by telephone, correspondence, or meetings as determined by the President. All Executive Committee votes shall be by voice. The Executive Committee shall report all of its decisions to the next meeting of the Board of Directors for their review and ratification.
The Executive Committee shall be charged with the determination of Rules and Regulations violations including Rules violations, eligibility violations, flagrant violations of the Bylaws, and other such violations which may occur. Except as provided for under Paragraph 5 of this Article and under Article Twelve, the Executive Committee shall be empowered to make a binding decision regarding any and all violations.
Upon a showing of good cause, the Executive Committee shall be authorized to order and direct the replaying of any league game. Upon a showing of good cause, the Executive Committee shall be authorized to recommend suspension of any member organization for flagrant violations of the Bylaws, Rules, or Regulations of CONNY.
The Executive Committee shall fulfill its duties under Article Twelve – Grievance & Disciplinary Proceedings.
An Executive Committee decision or action may not be challenged or otherwise overruled except by a seventy-five percent (75%) majority vote of the Directors attending or represented by proxy, exclusive of Executive Committee members, sitting in a properly constituted meeting. In the event the decision or action is vacated by a seventy-five percent (75%) majority vote of the Directors attending or represented by proxy, exclusive of Executive Committee members, then the Board of Directors shall be entitled to vote on the issues so overruled and vacated. The Board of Directors shall conduct a vote to determine the issues previously determined by the Executive Committee. Only a seventy-five percent (75%) majority vote of the Directors attending or represented by proxy shall be effective to render a final decision on said issues. In the event the Board of Directors is unable after two votes to have a seventy-five percent (75%) majority vote a final decision on the issues overruled and vacated, then the initial decision or action of the Executive Committee shall be reinstated and be final.
Grievance Statements: Any person or organization alleging that he, she, or it has been aggrieved in any matter within the jurisdiction of CONNY may, within four (4) days of the occurrence of the incident or of obtaining knowledge of the incident on which such alleged grievance is based, submit to the President of CONNY a written grievance statement. This statement shall specify the person or organization responsible for the alleged grievance, the nature of the grievance, and the relief desired. An extension of the time to file such statement may be granted by the President in his/her sole discretion. In the event the President is a party to a grievance, the Secretary shall fulfill the President’s responsibilities as described herein. If the Secretary and President are both parties to the grievance, it shall be considered by the whole Board of Directors, which shall appoint a Review Board as provided for in Paragraph 2 of this Article. In such event, the Review Board shall report directly to the entire Board of Directors.
Referral to a Review Board: The President shall commence a proceeding by appointing, within three (3) days of receiving the statement of grievance, a Review Board of at least three persons to whom the matter shall be referred.
Preliminary Action by Review Board: If the Review Board determines that no reasonable grounds for a grievance exist, it shall within three (3) days make a written decision stating the grounds for its decision and shall deliver copies to the President and the party alleging the grievance.
Delivery of the Statement of Grievance – Right to Reply: If the Review Board determines that there are reasonable grounds for such grievance, it shall deliver a copy of the statement of such grievance to the person or organization allegedly responsible for such grievance. Such person or organization shall have seven (7) days in which to reply. An extension of the time to file such statement may be granted by the Review Board in its sole discretion. The reply shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Review Board at the address specified by it and to the party alleging the grievance.
Mediation by Review Board – Setting Time and Place for Hearing: The Review Board shall then attempt to settle the grievance by mediation. If the attempt to mediate is unsuccessful, the Review Board shall set a place, date, and time for a hearing that is reasonably convenient for all parties. The hearing must be conducted as provided in Paragraph 6 of this Article.
Hearing by Review Board – Findings & Decisions: At the hearing, each party and the Review Board shall be entitled to call witnesses, whose testimony may be taken under oath as determined by the Review Board, produce evidence, and submit memoranda supporting his, her, or its position and shall be entitled to be represented by counsel. Stenographic minutes may be taken, the cost of which shall be borne equally by the party alleging the grievance and the party alleged to have committed the grievance, and otherwise, as assessed by the Review Board. Within five days after the conclusion of the hearing, any party wishing to do so may deliver a further written statement to the Review Board. The Review Board shall then make written findings of fact that shall be final and make a written decision that shall include grounds for the decision and recommended relief or disciplinary action, if any. It shall deliver a copy of its findings of fact and decision to the President and to each party.
Disciplinary Action: In the event the Review Board recommends relief or disciplinary action, the President shall make copies of the written findings and decision of the Review Board and distribute them to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall either affirm, amend, or remand the recommended relief or disciplinary action to the Review Board for further consideration and shall make a written decision which shall state the grounds for the decision. Copies of its decision shall be delivered to the parties and the Review Board. In the event relief or disciplinary action is to be taken, copies of the findings of fact and decision of the Review Board and the decision of the Executive Committee will be distributed to all members of the Board of Directors and other parties affected by the relief or disciplinary action. Decisions of the Review Board will be treated as Executive Committee decisions by the Board of Directors as provided for under Article Eleven, Paragraph 5.
Article Thirteen—SALARIES
The Executive Committee shall hire and fix the compensation of any and all employees who they in their discretion may determine to be necessary in the conduct of the business of the organization.
Article Fourteen—COMMITTEES
All committees of CONNY shall be appointed by the President, except as otherwise provided herein. Their term of office shall be for a period of one year, or less if sooner terminated by the action of the Board of Directors.
The permanent committees shall be:
Competition Committee: The Competition Committee shall be chaired by the Vice President—Competition and be comprised of the officers and a minimum of three (3) other persons appointed by the President.
Sportsmanship Committee: The Sportsmanship Committee shall investigate any formal complaint concerning unsportsmanlike or inappropriate behavior by a player, coach, game official, or spectator at a CONNY game or event; determine the facts of the incident; and recommend to the Executive Committee a course of action, including appropriate disciplinary action if needed. The proceedings of the CONNY Sportsmanship Committee are independent from, but related to, Article Twelve—Grievance & Disciplinary Proceedings, of these Bylaws. A party that disagrees with a Sportsmanship Committee action retains the right to initiate a full Article Twelve Grievance Proceeding. The Sportsmanship Committee shall be comprised of a Chairman and two other persons appointed by the President. The Chairman shall be the most recent past president available, or if no past president is available, shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors.
Article Fifteen—NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee shall be comprised of a Chairman and two other persons appointed by the President. The Chairman shall be the most recent past president available, or if no past president is available, shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors.
The Nominating Committee shall be appointed before the May meeting of the Board of Directors and identified to the Board at that meeting.
The Nominating Committee shall nominate one candidate for each office to be voted for at the Fall Meeting.
Voting members may submit names of candidates for consideration by the Nominating Committee prior to twenty (20) days before the Fall Meeting.
The Nominating Committee’s slate will be distributed by the Secretary to all members at least seven (7) days before the Fall Meeting.
Independent nominations may be made by petition signed by the designated representatives of at least twenty-five (25%) percent of the members and delivered to the Secretary prior to the commencement of the Fall Meeting.
Article Sixteen—ANNUAL DUES
Each member organization shall be required to pay annual dues in advance of the first game of each particular season. The amount of the dues may be increased or decreased by a two thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Board of Directors sitting in a properly constituted meeting.
Article Seventeen—RULES AND REGULATIONS
The Board of Directors shall adopt such Rules and Regulations covering policy, organization, procedural, and competitive matters as it deems appropriate by a majority vote.
Article Eighteen—AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be altered, amended, repealed, or added to by an affirmative vote of not less than seventy-five (75%) percent of the members attending or represented by proxy in a properly constituted meeting of the Board of Directors.
Any member may propose an Amendment to the Bylaws at any time by presenting it in writing to the Secretary. The Secretary shall distribute the proposed amendment to the Executive Committee, which shall make a written recommendation, including the grounds for the recommendation, for or against the proposed change of the Bylaws.
The Secretary shall distribute the proposed amendment and the recommendation of the Executive Committee to all members at least seven (7) days prior to the next regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors at which the amendment shall be considered.
If the amendment is not approved, it shall not be tabled again for consideration by the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors for a period of one year.
