American Contract Bridge League

District 19

Olympia Unit 441

By Laws

Adopted: April 1961

Amended: December 1973

January 1979

Reviewed: December 2004

Amended July 2011

This unit is chartered by, and functions within the by-laws, rules and regulations of the American Contract Bridge League and is Districts organizations.

Definitions and Abbreviations used in this document:

• ACBL and/or the League: The American Contract Bridge League
• DINO: The District 19 organization of ACBL
• The Unit: Olympia Unit 441 of the ACBL
• Unit Director and/or member of the unit board: A member of the Unit Board of Directors elected by the Unit membership and/or appointed Director to temporarily fill a vacancy on the Unit Board of Directors.
• Unit Officer: A member of the Unit Board of Directors elected by the Board of Directors.

Objects (sic) of the Unit Organization:

1. To provide a local area subsidiary of the League to carry out certain League functions such as the processing of ACBL memberships; investigating, and where indicated imposing disciplinary action on members involved in unethical or improper conduct at sanctioned games and/or tournaments; insuring that affiliated clubs within the Unit’s jurisdiction operate in accordance with ACBL, DINO, and Unit rules and regulations; and conducting authorized Sectional rated tournaments within its geographical boundaries.
2. To preserve and promote the best interests of, and to stimulate interest in the playing of duplicate contract bridge, and to increase the membership of the Unit and League.
3. To cooperate with and assist the League and DINO in the promotion and conduct of Regional, National and/or special tournaments.
4. To encourage the highest standards of conduct and ethics by its members, and to enforce such standards at all games and tournaments under its supervision and/or conducted by the Unit.
5. To promote the growth and development of the affiliated clubs within the Unit, and to encourage attendance by the Unit membership at the affiliated club games.
6. To support the League Charities programs with the object of realizing funds to be devoted to worthy humanitarian causes by encouraging affiliated clubs to conduct charity games and/or conducting Unit charity games.
7. To conduct a program of authorized Special Unit Games that will stimulate inter-club and intra-unit competition and fraternization and will complement the programs offered by the affiliated clubs and not provide competition detrimental to the financial health of the clubs.
8. To conduct such other activities as may be in keeping with its principal objectives.

Article 1, Unit Jurisdiction:

The geographical area within which this Unit shall have jurisdiction has been established by the League Charter as the counties of Lewis, Mason and Thurston, State of Washington.

Article 2, Membership:

1. Any person of good moral character and residing within the jurisdiction of the Unit is eligible for membership in the Unit and League, and no person shall be denied membership because of race, creed or color.
2. Such person, upon application and payment of dues, shall become and remain a member unless:
1. They change their permanent residence to a place outside the jurisdiction of the Unit, and is subsequently transferred to a different unit by the League.
2. They have failed to pay their dues in accordance with current regulations of the League.
3. They have been suspended or expelled by the Unit Board of Directors, the DINO Board of Directors, or by the League in accordance with established League regulation in effect at the time of the suspension or expulsion.
3. Membership in the Unit carries with it membership in the ACBL.

Article 3, Dues:

1. Annual dues for membership in the Unit shall be in the amount established for each year by the League.
2. No Unit member can be required to pay for any special levy or assessment, although voluntary contributions may be solicited by the Unit board.

Article 4, Membership Meetings:

1. There shall be an annual meeting of the members of the Unit which normally will be held in January of each year. This meeting will provide for:
1. The annual election to fill vacancies on the Unit Board of Directors.
2. The annual financial report on the Unit funds.
3. The opportunity for any member to be heard on any subject within the scope of the Unit objectives, responsibilities, and procedures.
4. The opportunity for the membership to vote on any pending proposals, on amendments that have been presented by the Unit Board, or by petition of the Unit members.
2. Special Membership meetings may be called at any time to consider specific matters. These special meetings shall be called by the Unit Board on:
1. Its own volition;
2. Request of the Unit president;
3. Petition signed by at least 20 members of the Unit.

The notice of the special meeting shall contain an agenda of the specific matters to be resolved at the meetings, although the chairman of the meeting may accept proposals, amendments, or subjects to be referred to committees for study and presentation at subsequent membership meetings.

3. The Unit Board shall fix the time and place for both the annual meeting and such special meetings that may be called. Notice of such meetings, together with an agenda of the matters to be discussed or acted upon shall be mailed (electronic mail is acceptable) to all Unit clubs for announcement to club membership and posting. For the annual meeting such notice shall be mailed at least 35 days prior to the date of the meeting, and for special membership meetings the notice shall be mailed at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting.
4. A quorum for the transaction of business at a special meeting shall be 30 members or more of the Unit. At the annual meeting a quorum shall consist of those members present. Members submitting absentee ballots in accordance with Article 4E of the By-Laws shall be counted as present in determining the quorum.
5. Members unable to attend an annual or special meeting may submit their votes by absentee ballot for the election of members for the Unit Board. Such absentee ballots shall be in sealed double envelopes (electronic mail is acceptable), with the inner envelope containing the member’s vote, and the outer envelope annotated with the member’s signature across the envelope flap, and the item or position being voted upon. Such absentee ballot shall be delivered or mailed so as to reach the Unit Secretary not later than 30 minutes prior to the time established for the meeting. The Unit Secretary shall verify the signature on the outside envelope as a member in good standing, and shall remove the sealed inner envelope and turn it over to the election committee or the vote counting authorities at the appropriate time of voting.
6. Proxy votes by the Unit membership are forbidden.

Article 5, Unit Board of Directors:

1. Number of Directors:

The affairs of the Unit shall be managed and conducted by the Unit board of Directors Which shall consist of 9 persons, all of whom must be members in good standing of the Unit.

2. Term of Office:

Each Director shall hold office for a period of three years, and shall continue to hold office until their successor shall have been duly elected, or until their position has been declared vacant by the Unit Board. Terms of office are staggered to provide that at the end of each calendar year, the term of office for three Unit Directors shall expire, and the three new Unit Directors elected at the Annual Membership Meeting shall assume their position on the Board.

3. Nomination and Election of Directors:

Candidates for elect to the Unit Board shall be nominated and elected from and by the membership of the Unit. Any member of the Unit not under suspensions and residing within the Unit’s jurisdiction, has the right to be a candidate for election.

4. Unit Election Committee:

1. Not less than sixty days prior to the Annual Membership Meeting, the President shall appoint a Unit Election Committee with the approval of the elected officers. Not over one-third of the members of this committee can be members of the current Board of Directors.

2. Duties of the Unit Election Committee:

a. (deleted) (Jan 1979)

b. To notify the membership of the upcoming election by announcements in each Unit club and announcement at the Unit Game(s), and to provide the opportunity for any member to place his name in nomination as a candidate. If no nominations or insufficient nominations are received, the Election Committee must make every effort to solicit candidates. If the Election Committee cannot get sufficient candidates, they must refer the matter to the Unit Board for resolution.

c. Provide ballots at each club and inform the members of their privilege of absentee ballots and provided in article 4E of these By-Laws, collect all sealed absentee ballots, electronic mailed ballots are acceptable, and deliver them without counting to the Unit Secretary.

d. At the Annual Membership meeting, the Election Committee shall receive all of the sealed envelopes containing ballots, those gathered by the Election Committee, the absentee ballots received directly by the Unit Secretary and those ballots collected at the Membership Meeting, open such envelopes and count the ballots and announce the results of the election. A plurality of votes is sufficient for election to the Board of directors. Candidates or their delegated representative have the right to be present when the ballots are counted.

5. Vacancies:

1. Vacancies on the Board may be created through the expiration of term of office, resignation, death, suspension or expulsion from membership, impeachment, loss of membership in ACBL, or absence of a Director from two consecutive Board meetings without an excuse acceptable to the Board.

2. (Deleted.)

3. Any vacancy on the Unit Board shall be temporarily filled by appointment by the Board from the entire membership of the Unit. Such appointment shall remain in effect until the next annual election of Directors to the Board, at which time a new Director will be elected to fulfill the remainder of the unexpired term.

6. Unit Board Meetings:

1. The Unit Board shall hold a minimum of three meetings a year, spaced not more than 120 days apart.

2. At least ten days prior to each meeting a notice of such meeting, together with an agenda of the matters to be discussed or resolved at the meeting, shall be sent to each affiliated club within the Unit. Each club must read the notice and agenda at its next game and post the notice for its players. Any member may present their views or desires on any specific item on the agenda at the discretion of the chairman.

3. A copy of the proposed minutes of each meeting shall be sent by the Unit Secretary to each affiliated club in the Unit within 20 days after such meeting. Each club shall post the copy of the minutes for information to the membership.

4. A quorum for the Unit Board of Directors meetings shall be five Directors, and no business shall be transacted unless such a quorum is present. ACBL regulations prohibit the use of proxy voting at the Unit Board Meetings. Lack of a quorum will not prevent matters being discussed or assigned to committees for study, but matters requiring resolution or Board approval or disapproval must be postponed until a subsequent meeting at which a quorum is present.

7. Powers and Duties:

In addition to the powers herein granted the Unit Board by other provisions of these By-Laws, and by the Laws of the State of Washington, the Unit Board shall have the following powers, duties and responsibilities:

1. To conduct, manage, supervise, and control the business affairs of the Unit.

2. To acquire, hold, administer, maintain and dispose of the property of the Unit.

3. To appropriate and expend the funds of the Unit in the conduct of the Unit business.

4. To employ and discharge employee, and to supervise their conduct, and to fix their compensation.

5. To investigate reports of unethical or improper conduct of members of the Unit, and if justified, suspend, expel or otherwise discipline such member in accordance with current ACBL regulations. Two-thirds of the Unit Board Membership must concur in any disciplinary action against a Unit member.

6. To supervise the activities of the affiliated clubs within the Unit, to ensure compliance with current ACBL, DINO and Unit rules and regulations.

7. To adopt By-laws consistent with those of ACBL and to revise or update such By-Laws as required.

8. To participate in all League and DINO elections.

9. To promote the development and organization of affiliated clubs within the Unit.

10. To expand its membership by active efforts to develop new players and enroll new members.

11. To conduct such other activities as are in keeping with its purpose.

8. Board Membership:

The Unit Board shall be the sole judge of its membership except in cases of impeachment of a Board Member(s) when such action is initiated by Unit members and not by the Unit Board. In this case a jury of an equal number of Board Members and Non-Board Members shall be impaneled to pass upon the impeachment action.

Article 6, Unit Officers:

1. Unit officers shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
2. The Unit Board may at their option combine the offices of the Secretary and Treasurer, provide for additional officers, and/or employ a salaried manager or secretary. A salaried employee need not be an elected member of the Board, but if not, shall not have a vote on the Unit Board.
3. The Unit Board shall elect all officers at its first meeting after the Annual Membership meeting, and the persons elected shall hold office for one year or until successors are elected, or until they lose their membership in the Unit, or until their office is declared vacant or until relieved of their duties by the Unit President.
4. Duties:

1. President:

Presides at all meetings of the Unit Board of Directors and all general and special meetings of the Unit membership; appoints all committees except when these by-Laws specify otherwise; exercises general supervision over the activities of the Unit, and performs such other duties as are incidental to the office or which may be conferred on him by the Unit Board; and is a member ex-officio of all committees except the Election committee.

2. Vice President:

In the absence or incapacitation of the president assumes those duties. Performs such other duties as the President or Board may prescribe.

3. Secretary:

Maintains a roster of the Unit members; sends notification of meetings to members and Directors; attend and keeps the minutes of all meetings of members and Directors; keeps records of all the tournaments and other activities of the Unit; completes and files all the Unit reports required by the League or district; receives and files all reports of all officers and committees; responsible for the maintenance of membership records and the collection of annual dues. The Unit Board may delegate any of the secretary’s duties to other officers, employees, or appointees.

4. Treasurer:

Has custody of and is responsible for all funds, securities and property of the Unit, and deposits Unit funds in the bank or banks the Board designates; make payment of the Unit obligations as directed by the Board; keep accurate records and make financial reports as directed by the Board. If directed by the Board will provide such bond as may be required. If bond is required by the Board the expense of the bond will be paid by the Unit.

Article 7, Impeachment:

5. Any Unit Board member may be removed for cause at any meeting of the Unit Board of directors provided two-thirds of the Board Members so shall vote.
6. Impeachment action may be initiated against a Board Member(s) by petition from any Unit member when such petition is signed by not less than 20 members of the Unit. In such cases Article 5H will apply.
7. When impeachment charges are filed against a Board Member, whether initiated by the Board or by other Unit members, such Unit Board Member shall be notified in writing by registered mail of the charges against him or her. Such notification must reach the accused at least ten days prior to the meeting at which their case will be considered. The accused must be advised that they may be represented by counsel of their own choosing.

Article 8, Committees:

1. The following committees may be appointed by the Unit board:

1. Tournament committee – Responsible for the planning, preparation, conduct, operation and reporting of all Unit games and tournaments.

2. Conduct and Ethics Committee – Responsible for investigating any complaint or charge against any member of the Unit for unethical or improper conduct, and to submit its findings to the Unit Board, together with its recommendation as to the action to be taken; responsible for investigating complaints of unethical or improper conduct against non-Unit 441 ACBL members that may occur at Unit Conducted games and tournaments, and to prepare the report for filing with the accused one’s home unit and/or for filing with DINO and/or ACBL.

3. Appeals Committee – responsible for hearing appeals from rulings by club game, Unit game or Unit-sponsored tournament directors when such ruling concerns the facts of the case. When the appeal involves the matter of interpretation of disciplinary powers, the committee is responsible for assisting the appealer in the preparation of their appeal to the National Laws committee.

2. The president of the Board may appoint such other committees as they may feel are necessary from time to time, except that any committee appointed to investigate a matter that may result in the suspension or expulsion or the filing of any criminal charges against any member must receive the concurrence of the Unit Board as to the committee’s membership.
3. Membership of standing or special committees is not restricted to members of the Unit Board. Any unit member in good standing may be appointed to the committees.

Article 9, Amendments to the Unit By-Laws:

The Unit Board is responsible for keeping the Unit By-Laws current and consistent with changes in DINO and ACBL By-Laws and rules and regulations.

Proposed amendments to the Unit By-Laws may be initiated by the Unit Board or may be initiated by members of the Unit by petition signed by not less than 20 members of the Unit. Such petitions submitted to the Unit Secretary with 60 days of an Annual Membership Meeting will be incorporated into the agenda for such meeting. Petitions submitted at any other time will be made a matter of agenda for a special Membership Meeting in accordance with Article 4B of these By-Laws. Such special meeting must be held within 30 days from receipt of the petition by the Unit Secretary.