Article I - Name

The league shall be known as "Issaquah Pony League", hereinafter referred to as the "League", a member of PONY Baseball, Inc. The League has been established as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Washington.

Article II - Statement of Policy

Section 1 - It shall be the policy of the League to conduct it's activities so that the physical and moral welfare of the young people for whose benefit it is organized shall remain paramount and all matters of policy shall be determined on that basis.

Section 2 - No person who is a member of, or who is employed by, or who is any way connected with the League shall receive any personal financial benefit therefore beyond the reasonable value of services in carrying out the purpose for which the League has been organized.

Section 3 - In order to secure suitable and adequate financial backing to carry out the purpose of the League, it shall be the policy of the League to permit only such sponsorship as is consistent with the purpose for which the League is organized. And to select sponsors who are interested in the League solely or principally as a means of contributing to the welfare of young people.

Section 4 - It shall be the policy of the League to prohibit any direct advertising of alcoholic beverages or tobacco products in connection with the League or any of its programs. It shall further be the policy of the League to prohibit the use or consumption of alcoholic, tobacco or any prohibited substances during any League function including, without limitation, games.

Article III - Purpose

Section 1 - The purpose of the League shall be to organize and supervise the playing of baseball under specialized rules and regulations, to secure suitable and adequate financial backing for these purposes, and to own, lease or otherwise obtain the use of suitable playing facilities and equipment for these purposes.

Article IV - Membership

Section 1 - Any parents or guardians of active players, active team or division sponsors, or active volunteer adult leaders shall be considered members of the League. For purposes of the provision, "active" shall mean actual participation during the prior season. Membership is restricted to those who are or will be at least eighteen (18) years of age by August 1, and excludes anyone who may have been specifically banned from the League by its Board of Directors.

Section 2 - The League shall not discriminate based upon age, sex, gender, national origin, race or religion.

Article V - Board of Directors

Section 1 - The Board of Directors of the League, hereinafter referred to as the "Board", shall be drawn from existing members of the League and elected by the membership at the annual meeting for the terms and in the manner provided for in the bylaws of the League.

Section 2 - The Board shall have full authority and discretion to make all policy, set budgets, and implement the on-going business of the League consistent with the bylaws. Without limiting generality of the foregoing, the Board shall have the power to:

• Purchase or otherwise acquire for the League any property, right or privilege which the League is authorized to acquire, by the price or consideration and upon such terms as the Board may deem appropriate;

• Appoint, remove or suspend subordinate agents or volunteers and to determine their duties and fix their salaries, if any;

• Determine the composition of a sub-committee to deal with the particulars of the PONY tournament teams (if any);  

• Determine who shall be authorized on behalf of the League to sign bills, notices, receipts, acceptances, endorsements, checks, releases, contracts, and any other instruments. Without any further action by the Board, the President and Treasurer are so authorized; 

• Suspend, discharge, bar, or otherwise discipline any member, manager, coach, player, parent, league official, umpire as well as other related people as needed without refund whose conduct is considered detrimental to the best interests of the League (see Disciplinary Guidelines below);

• Set registration fees and award scholarships;

• Generally do all such lawful acts and take actions as may be necessary and proper.

Article VI - Officers

Section 1 The Officers of the League shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Information Officer and Commissioner of Baseball Operations.

Article VII - Government

Section 1 The government of the League shall be under the direct supervision of the officers and the Board of Directors.

Section 2 All rules governing the playing of baseball, the legality of players and related questions shall be in accordance with Rules and Regulation of PONY Baseball, Inc., with such modifications adopted by the Board of Director of the League and approved by PONY Baseball, Inc.

Article VIII - Bylaws

Section 1 Any bylaws, not consistent with this Constitution embodying addition provisions for the government of the Corporation, shall be adopted and may be amended by the membership of the League.

Article IX - Amendments

Section 1 This Constitution may be amended only by a majority vote of the League membership at an annual meeting of the League Membership, or a special meeting of the League membership called for that purpose.

Bylaws

Article I - Meetings and Voting

Section 1 - There shall be an annual membership meeting after July but no later than December each year, the time and place shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Notice of such meeting shall be made upon at least ten (10) calendar day's notice, the manner of such notice to be determined by the Board of Directors in their sole discretion. Such notice, subject to Board approval, may be in the form of direct mailing, or such public media such as newspaper, radio, Internet, e-mail, etc.

Section 2 - The Board of Directors may call special membership meetings from time-to-time with notice as provided by Washington law.

Section 3 - Only those persons who are members of the League (see "Membership" above) and personally present at a membership meeting shall be eligible to vote at that meeting; there shall be no proxy voting.  A majority of those present and eligible to vote at a membership meeting shall be required to conduct business, including the election of Board members. There shall not be any quorum requirements for a membership meeting, either annual or special.

Section 4 - A board member must introduce any items for the membership meeting agenda.

Article II - Election Of Officers

Section 1 At the meeting prior to the annual meeting, a Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President, consisting of two member of the Board of Director and two members of the general membership, to obtain and nominate offers for the following year. 

Section 2 The term of office for all officers shall be two years beginning the day flowing the annual meeting.  Officers may perform different duties over their two-year team.  Each year approximately one-half of the officers will be elected to new terms, allowing for approximately one-half experienced officers and one-half new officers.

Section 3 The All officers shall be eligible for reelection.

Section 4 In the event of the death, resignation, or inability of any officer to perform the duties of office, the Board of Director shall empowered to select a replacement from such office to serve until the following annual meeting.

Article III - Board of Directors

Section 1 - The Board of Directors of the League, hereinafter referred to as the "Board", shall be drawn from existing members of the League and elected by the membership at the annual meeting for the terms and in the manner provided for as follows:

Section 2 - The Board shall consist of not less than one (1) nor more than seventeen (17) persons. The term for each Board member elected at the annual meeting is two (2) years. All members of the Board shall be eligible for re-election.  In an effort to provide continuity and ongoing succession all efforts will be made to assign entry members into Primary positions such as President, and Coordinator and experienced members to Vice-President, and assistants to facilitate training, backup, and redundancy.

Section 3 - The prior Board shall determine, immediately prior to the annual membership meeting, the total size of the Board for the following year.

Section 4 - A quorum for the conducting of all business, except as specifically otherwise set forth herein, shall be at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the Board.

Section 5 - The Board, in its discretion, may remove any Board member upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Board sitting at the time such issue is brought before the Board for vote. For purposes of removing a Board member, the quorum required to conduct such business shall be increased from fifty-on (51%) to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66.66%).

Section 6 - The Board may fill any vacancies on the Board at any regular Board meeting by a majority vote thereof.

Section 7 - The Board shall meet at least quarterly or as often as needed to handle League business. The time and place for such meetings shall be determined by the President and shall be made known to all members of the Board upon at least 1-day's notice, oral, telephonic, written or e-mail. Any member may attend a Board meeting; however, membership participation shall be at the discretion of the Board. Furthermore, Board may convene in executive session to discuss or resolve such matters, which the Board, in its discretion, believes, should be handled confidentially.

Section 8 - Board members may carry written proxies for non-attending Board members for specific votes.

Article IV - Financial Policy

Section 1 - The Board shall decide all matters pertaining to the finances of the League, bearing the responsibility to conduct the financial affairs of the League in a prudent business-like manner.

Section 2 - The Board shall institute policy relative to the preparation and acceptance of an annual budget, and periodic and annual presentation of financial reports, and an annual review of the books of the League.

Section 3 - No officer shall be permitted to expend, on any particular item or task, more than One Hundred dollars ($100.00) without prior Board approval.

Article V - Duties Of Officers And Other Board Members

Section 1 The President shall;

• Preside at all meetings of the Board and the League;

• Serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the League;

• Represent the League at any meetings of other organizations, including the City Of Issaquah;

• Be responsible for registering teams with PONY baseball and any additional coordination with PONY organization;

• Perform such other duties as are normally associated with the office of President.

Section 2 The Vice-President shall;

• Perform such duties as may be assigned by the President;

• Otherwise assist the President in the performance of the President duties and shall preside at meeting in the absence of the president;

Section 3 The Secretary;

• Have custody of the Articles, Bylaws, minutes and all other records of the League, except financial records;

• Keep an accurate record of the meetings and other activities of the League and the Board;

• Be responsible for all correspondence on behalf of the League;

• Transmit all records and correspondence to any person elected to succeed him/her.

Section 4 The Treasurer shall;

• Receive and disburse all funds with the approval of the Board;

• Keep an accurate account of all funds received and disbursed for the League;

• Submit a financial report at all regular meetings and at such other times as may be requested by the President;

• Compile an annual report of League finances;

• Transmit all records and correspondence to any person elected to succeed him/her in that office.

Section 5 The Secretary/Treasurer shall;

• Perform the combined duties of the above documented positions of Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 6 The Commissioner Of Baseball Operations shall;

• Must be a parent; or at least not a coach, nor assistant coach, nor manager of a team;

• Supervise the annual registration of all players, tryout sessions and distribution of  player among League teams;

• Draft and assigning of players to teams;

• Represent any players and parents in disputes with coaches or other League officials;

• Be accessible to players and parents to answer questions and provide information.

• Determine the number of teams;

• Determine and assign coaches for the teams;

• Plan and hold tryout sessions (Pony  Only, not Colt) as required;

• Conduct with the team coaches the final roster placements, whether by preference that can be accommodated, consensus of participants, or draft, as required;

• Write rule amendments for divisions;

• Hold meetings with coaches at appropriate times before and during the season;

• Be empowered to suspend any player, coach or parent for one (1) game for conduct considered by the President to be detrimental to the League, and recommend further disciplinary action to the Board if considered necessary (see Disciplinary Guidelines below);

• Participate in the arrangement of PONY tournament teams, if such teams are determined by the Board.

Section 7 The Information Officer shall;

• Coordinate with players and parents the registration and payment of fees, and medical waiver records, either by on-line system or paper documents;

• Prepare and distribute all flyers, and memorandums to parents and players regarding League matters including tryout sessions, post-season tournament team information, etc.;

• Prepare and maintain a League Web-page consistent with PONY baseball web-pages of other youth leagues;

• Maintain game and player statistics on the web page as directed by the Board

• Prepare registration forms consistent with Board decisions regarding annual fees;

• Provide registration information to the Board regarding registration and payment of players by age for Pony and Colt divisions.

• Maintain annual registration records and transmit all records and correspondence to any person elected to succeed him/her in that office.

Section 8 Other Board Position - Fundraising, Sponsorships, Community Grant Coordinator;

• Contact potential new sponsors for the League;

• Coordinate sponsor assignments with teams;

• Distribute sponsor plaques to directly to sponsors;

• Maintain records of sponsor's name, address, phone numbers, etc.

• Keep track of sponsor logos, uniform colors, teams or divisions they sponsored and any other special needs.

• Work with companies that offer Community Grants and pursue opportunities.

  Section 9 Other Board Position Chief Umpire;

• Schedule and assign umpires to scheduled games.  This function may also be performed for other Pony Baseball Leagues, such as Bellevue Pony Baseball.

• Obtain suitable umpires for the League as directed by the Board;

• Schedule and hold training sessions for the umpires;

• Assign umpires for all League games;

• Arrange for paychecks to the umpires;

• Develop processes to avoid No Umpire Available Situations and No Show Situations;

• Consider all complaints relative to umpires and make suitable recommendations to the Board.

Section 10 Other Board Position Field, Game Scheduling, and Facility Coordinator;

• Work with State Of Washington Parks to pursue baseball facilities at Sammamish State Park.

• Work with State Of Washing Parks to get discounted parking permits for Sammamish State Park.

• Work with High Schools to obtain access to high school fields.

• Attend all required city meetings and work to obtain fields as directed by the Board;

• Coordinate any required installations of fences or equipment sheds at the fields;

• Work with the City of Issaquah to obtain any required lighting for all League games;

• Arrange for the field preparation for all League games.

• Distribute rainout line information, and lock combinations as required.

• Write and distribute schedules for all League games as directed by the Board;

• Coordinate with the Field Coordinator and scheduling coordinators from neighboring leagues for to determine acceptable inter-lock game day, time, and locations.

Section 10 Other Board Position Equipment Coordinator;

• Obtain uniforms for pool play cascade teams.

• Take an inventory of the equipment during the off-season, clean and prepare it for the new season.

• Provide an equipment inventory report to the Board no later than December preceding a new season.

• Obtain any required new equipment as directed by the Board;

• Provide equipment as required for the player tryout sessions;

• Fill and distribute equipment bags for each team coaches or manager;

• Distribute balls as required for all League games to team coaches or manager;

• Collect all equipment from team coaches or manager at the end of the season;

  Section 11 Other Board Position Tournament Coordinator shall;

• Plan & coordinate mid-season and post-season Pony and Colt tournaments with the Board.

• Establish a tournament committee to assist with tournament planning, communication with perspective tournament teams, tournament rules, field reservation and game schedule, and tournament concessions and awards as approved by the Board.

• Establish and present tournament plans, budgets and communications to the Board for review and approval prior to committing the League to any financial or field obligations.

• Present post tournament report to the Board documenting results of the tournament(s) including a financial report.

Article VI - Coaches and Players

Section 1 - All League coaches and players shall promote and maintain good sportsmanship at all times, including at all League practices, games and any additional League functions. Coaches must submit to State Of Washington Background Checks.  Coaches shall comply with the NYSCA (National Youth Sports Coaches Association) coaches and parents' code of ethics and any additional League rules set down by the Board. Coaches shall treat all League officials and umpires with courtesy and respect. Players are expected to treat all coaches, League officials and umpires with courtesy a respect.

Article VII - Disciplinary Guidelines

Section 1 - Enforcement of playing rules at League games shall be the sole responsibility of the umpire(s) who been assigned to that game. Enforcement of additional League conduct rules shall be the joint responsibility of the Commissioner of Baseball Operations, umpires assigned to that game, any Board members present at the game and any other League officials who have been given authority by the Board. The Board shall make any determinations regarding suspensions beyond one (1) game or expulsions from the League.  For any incidents regarding a player, the Commissioner Of Baseball Operations shall inform and consult with the Player Agent.

Section 2 Violations of conduct rules for coaches and players include (but are not limited to) the following;

• Fighting;

• Foul language;

• Derogatory remarks made to umpires, coaches, or League officials;

• Improper decorum in the dugouts or on the fields;

• Cheating or fraud of any kind;

• Destruction of league or city property;

• Continued use of improper equipment or wearing of an improper uniform after being warned;

• Malicious conduct of any kind;

• Violation of PONY guidelines of General Conduct;

Section 3 - The Commissioner Of Baseball Operations shall determine the severity of the violation (or, in the absence of the Commissioner Of Baseball Operations, any other empowered League official present at the incident). For a minor violation, the coach(s) and/or player(s) shall be given a letter of reprimand, a copy of which shall be given to the Boar for filing. A serious violation shall result in the matter being referred to the Board, and the coach or player being suspended for one (1) game only, or until the Board has made a determination regarding the matter. An extreme violation shall result in a recommendation to the Board that the coach(s) and/or player(s) be permanently expelled from the League. Any incidents or violations involving players must have the notification, input, guidance and the general involvement of the Player Agent.

Article VIII - Rules For Conducting Meetings

Section 1 Roberts Rules Of Order shall govern league meetings, and meetings of the Board of Director and League Committees in all cases in which they are applicable and not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the League shall adopt. 

Section 2 Meetings should not get bogged down with constant references to Roberts Rules where no serious challenge to procedure is made.

Section 3 In general, a motion must be made for an issue to be considered.  It must be seconded, request for discussion, delineating the pros and cons and a vote taken using verbal yeas and nays.

Article IX - Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the League members in attendance at any membership meeting.

In witness whereof, these bylaws have been duly adopted this _____ day of ____________, 2003        by consent of the membership of the League at it's annual meeting.