League Constitution

THE VETERANS ENGLISH BILLIARDS LEAGUE

Constitution and by-laws Amended July , 2008

(Herein after referred to as the league)

ARTICLE #1 League Objectives

The objective of the Winnipeg Veteran's English Billiard League is to bring within the fold of our league every person eligible who is willing to learn, promote and play the game of English Billiards.

To ensure for the league and our teams quality players who will promote comradeship, instruct and advance the game of English Billiards, while adhering to fair play and sportsmanship at all times.

All of which we propose to do by conducting ourselves in an honourable and friendly like manner in accordance with the provisions stated in these constitution and bylaws which is the law supreme of our league.

ARTICLE #2 Allowed Teams, Fees & Date Due

1 Teams are sponsored by the Veterans organizations in this area.

Other organizations may be admitted by majority vote of the

Executive, and Team Captains. Team members must be members in

good standing of a Veterans organization, or/and organization

approved by the League Executive & Team Captains.

2 League entry fees are $400.00 a year per team and League Fees must

be paid in full by December 31 of the year in which the season starts

annual play.

A maximum of 8 players plus one life member is allowed on each team.

3 Players or Teams who have not paid their fees by December 31 will

be unable to partake in League or League Trophy play

ARTICLE #3 Responsibilities of League Officials

SECTION A

League Executive Board Consists of:

1 President

2 Vice President

3 Secretary/Treasurer

4 Team Captains

5 Past President

SECTION B

League Executive Committee Consists of:

1 President

2 Vice President

3 Secretary Treasurer

The league executive committee will be elected at the Annual General Meeting and will be responsible for the day to day operation of the league in consultation with the Team Captains. They will be responsible for their duties and responsibilities as identified in these bylaws, and they as the executive will have authority to enturpit and administer these bylaws and enact their duties for and on behalf of the League.

SECTION (C)

Membership and Duties of the Executive Board

1 President

2 Vice President

3 Secretary/Treasurer

4 Past President

5 Team Captains

SECTION (D) Past President

Attend all meetings and make his experience available to the President and the Executive.

SECTION (E) President

1 Call meetings as required, by the Constitution and Bylaws

2 Act as chairman of the meetings.

3 Prepare agenda for all meetings.

4 Co-sign all league cheques.

5 Appoint qualified members of the league to audit the financial

statement.

SECTION (F) Secretary/Treasurer

1 Ensure that all teams are properly notified of all League and

Captains meetings

2 Keep accurate minutes of all league and executive meetings.

3 Keep accurate records of all financial proceedings.

4 Furnish a financial report for audit at the end of each season.

5 Co-sign league cheques.

6 Collect all monies owed to the league by Member(s), Team(s)

and/or League Registered Player(s) and deposit all monies it in the

league bank account.

7 Issue cheques to pay bills owed by the league.

8 Contact team captains at the beginning of each season and

determine the number of

teams, which will enter the league that year.

9 Prepare a league schedule.

10 Obtain a roster of players and their handicaps from each team.

11 Furnish each team captain with a copy of the schedule, and score

cards with return

addressed envelopes.

12 Keep a record of team and individual players standings each week,

along with changes in players handicaps.

13 Furnish results of each weeks play to the media.

14 Arrange for league play-offs at the end of each season.

15 Arrange schedule for individual play and trophies.

16 Arrange for the return, engraving, and presentation of the trophies

at the end of the season.

17 Arrange for the end of season wind up of the league.

18 Present a report & an outline of activities performed to date, &

what is to occur for the remainder of the season at each meeting of

the league

19 Collect team fees as determined by the league at the general

meeting

20 Assist the Web Site Designer(s) to keep the web site up to date and

to insure its accuracy and to ensure any fees or funds earned,

associated with the web site are the property of the league

SECTION ( G) Vice President

1 Attend all league meetings.

2 Make himself familiar with the ongoing affairs of the league.

3 Serve as President- Proterm, in the absence of the President

4 Assist the President to run the meeting by ensuring there is proper

decorum during the meeting at all times..

SECTION (H) Team Captains

1 Arrange with his club for the entry of his team into the league.

2 Undertake to either attend all league meetings, or arrange for the

attendance of an alternate.

3 Notify the secretary treasurer of team roster, along with their

updated and/or recommended handicaps by the first week of

September.

4 Forward match results and any moneys to the secretary treasurer

PROMPTLY.

5 Arrange for distribution of wind up tickets to his team, and report

results and forward ticket money to secretary treasurer by due date.

6 Encourage his players to improve their skill and knowledge of the

game and its rules.

7 Post an up to date copy of the team and players record and players

handicaps.

8 Provide the league secretary with all team members name, address

and phone numbers and email addresses(if available)

9 Ensure the league registration card, which also includes a waiver

agreement for the web site, are properly filled in and signed and

returned to the secretary/treasurer

10 Ensure that all team members are paid up and in good standing

with their respective club or organization.

11 Ensure that their players are mindful of the rules and that they are

taught how to properly referee a match.

12 Ensure that all players play by the rules and those players are to be

respectful of their opponents at all times before during and after

the matches.

13 Ensure that weekly scorecards are properly submitted on time by

phone, facsimile or email. All original league stat cards must be

delivered to the secretary treasurer by mail or hand delivered before

months end for all matches played

14 Ensure that league stats and player stats are posted in your home

clubs games room

ARTICLE #4 Honorary Life Members

Honorary Life Membership can be bestowed upon a person who in the opinion of the league executive board, has rendered valuable service to the amateur billiards game.

ARTICLE #5 Players Obligations

1 Attend team practices and improve your skill.

2 Attend the Annual General Meeting.

3 Cooperate in the success of the play in any individual trophy

competition you may enter by communicating with your opponent

and playing your matches before the cut

off date

4 Players must present proper conduct, are prohibited of coaching,

interference, unfair conduct and/or tactics during match play.

5 During match play any coaching or interference, unfair conduct

and or tactics is to result in one warning by the referee. In the event

of a second occurrence during the match, the match MAY be

forfeited and awarded to the other player.

6 Ensure at all times your play and behaviour towards your

opponents is respectful

ARTICLE #6 Election of Team Captains & Co-Captains

A team meeting shall be called annually, with an election for a team captain and a Co-Captain.

ARTICLE #7 Election of Officers

1 To take place at the Annual General Meeting each spring.

2 Nominations may be made and seconded from the floor. .

3 Election is confirmed by a majority of the eligible votes cast of those

in attendance.

4 Any eligible member who is unable to attend the general meeting

may run for one of the elected positions provided he is a member in

good standing and has submitted a signed letter of his intention to

accept a nomination if so nominated. His letter must be submitted

to the executive committee prior to the start of the elections at the

general meeting, so that it may be read to the membership.

ARTICLE #8 Meetings

The number for a quorum will be the same as the number of teams in the league at the time of the meeting.

A. Fall Meeting Of The Executive.

1 Present schedule, make changes in fee structure, preliminary

discussion of trophies, banquet etc.

2. December break, finalize trophies, banquet, etc.

B. Annual General Meeting;

1 Secretary/treasurers report.

2 Audit of secretary/treasurers report.

3 Election of Officers.

4 Presentation of the secretary/treasurers honorarium.

5 Changes in the constitution and by laws

C. Fall and Annual Meeting

1 Any member or team wishing to place an item for discussion on the

agenda must forward same 3 days prior to the date of the meeting

to the Secretary/Treasurer or the President.

2 Agenda items not submitted prior to the meeting as stated above

require a majority vote of the members in attendance to place the

item on the agenda after the items that have been properly

submitted.

3 The added items to the agenda will be discussed provided there is

sufficient time to do so. In the event there is not time to handle the

additional items added to the agenda, they will be included on the

agenda of the nest meeting, as the first order of business.

4 In order to advance a late item that is placed on the agenda, it will

require a three quarters vote of the members in attendance at the

meeting to do so.

D. Secretary/Treasurers Honorarium

1 The secretary/treasurer will be awarded an annual honorarium

based on $60.00 per team for those teams who continue on for the

start of the next segment of the league schedule after the Christmas

break

2 This honorarium will be paid in two instalments, one of 30 percent

to be paid by December 21st, and a second instalment of 70 percent

to be paid at the Leagues General Meeting.

ARTICLE #9 Rules

1 League play will conform to the Rules of English Billiards as put

forth by The Billiards and Snooker Control Council, or similar

type organization..

2 Any changes made in the above rules will be adopted at the

beginning of league play each fall.

3 Each home team captain or Co-Captain is to post the names of four

players with their handicaps by 6.15 p.m..

FAILURE TO DO SO SHALL RESULT IN FORFEITURE OF

THE FIRST GAME, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL GAME(S) FOR

EACH FURTHER FIVE MINUTE DELAY.

4 The visiting team captain or Co-Captain is to post his players

by 6:30 p.m.

FAILURE TO DO SO SHALL RESULT IN FORFEITURE OF

THE FIRST GAME, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL GAME(S) FOR

EACH FURTHER FIVE MINUTE DELAY.

5 Play must start at the scheduled time 6:30 pm or earlier, unless there is

a mutual agreement between the teams to start at a later time.

6 In all instances where there is no mutual agreement and play is

delayed by one team past the scheduled start time that game(s) will

be defaulted to the opposing team.

6a IF THE TIME SHOWING ON THE CLUB CLOCK IS

IN DISPUTE THE OFFICIAL TIME OF DAY WILL

BE THE DECIDING FACTOR.

7 Effected teams may file a protest with the league executive for

defaulted games, all such protests must be submitted within 48

hours of the forfeited game. Failure to properly submit a protest

within the prescribed time limits will disqualify one's right to

protest the defaulted game or games.

8 First named players play first

9 Each player will be allowed a 5 minute warm up after games 1 and

2 prior to commencing play for games 3 and 4

10 Games 3 and 4 must start within 15 minutes of the completion of

games 1 and 2, unless there is a mutual agreement.

11 Visiting team has choice of tables, which is to say that first and

third players have the table of their choice

12 Generally the home team is responsible for providing referee's for

all league and playoff games.

13 Referees who referee league matches must be be fair and impartial

and uphold the standard rules and ensure fair play

14 League games may be refereed by someone from either team or by

some other person who is qualified to do so, in all cases both

players must agree.

15 In the event the visiting player or the home player is opposed to

having a person referring his game he must acknowledge his

concern before play starts. Once a referee starts a match he will

continue to referee the match. Should the referee be changed

during the match, the same principal as the first part of number 15

will apply.

16 The removal of a referee during a match can not occur unless there

is mutual agreement between both players.

ARTICLE #10 Handicaps

1 New players entering the league shall be assessed a handicap of +20

or lower at the discretion of the team captain and/or the handicap

committee.

2 If former players of the league return, they shall also be

handicapped by the team captain and/or the handicap committee.

Their handicap will be adjusted on the 10 point system for the next

5 games, then move to the 5 point system.

3 The handicap of new players will increase by ten for each win, and

decrease by ten for each loss, until the player has competed in ten

matches, after which his handicap will rise or fall by five

subsequent to any wins or losses.

4 A players handicap my not pass +30 unless by majority vote at the

Annual General Meeting

5 A handicap committee shall be formed consisting of the President,

Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and the Past President, and

any life member still active in the League. This committee is

empowered to make changes in a players handicap, which in their

judgment they see as valid and fair.

6 Challenges to the decisions made by the Handicap committee may

be made to the Handicap Committee in writing by the Team

Captain or Co-Captain. Such appeal must be accompanied by all

relevant facts and a statement outlining to the Handicap Committee

why their initial decision was wrong or unfair to the player and

should be changed or amended.

7 In all instances after the Handicap committee has rendered their

decision from an appeal ,the committees ruling will be final and

will only subject to review at the next general meeting following the

final ruling of the handicap committee.

ARTICLE #11 Playoffs and Trophy Play

SECTION A

League Play Offs

1 Players handicaps as of end of regular season play.

1.1 must play a minimum of 5 league games to play in the Play offs.
2 Each play off is best of nine.

3 Four games to be played on the first night. Play off completed on

the second night.

4 Home and away series. Higher-ranking teams have choice of home

or away for first four games

5 Choice of play off dates to be mutually agreed upon by team

captains.

6 Secretary/treasurer to be notified of play off dates and venues.

7 A player on the ten-point handicap system may not participate in

the play offs if there are six or more players on his team, unless

granted leave to do so by the executive.

8 First and second place teams have BYE in the first round of the

play offs. Teams finishing 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th will play off with

3rd playing 6th and 4th playing 5th. The winners of this series

then play off with the 1st and 2nd place teams with the 1^st place

team playing the lowest ranked team. The winners of this series

will then play for the league championship

9 All play off rounds are best of nine games

10 The league final championship games as well as the finals for the

Lockwood, Bardal, McLean Trophy Play, must have a neutral

qualified referee who is not associated with either team or player

who is partaking in the Match Final

11 The league President in consultation with the two Team Captains

or their designates will be responsible for selecting and securing

referees for the finals of the League Championship.

12 The Co-coordinators for each Division of Trophy Play will be

responsible for selecting and securing qualified referees for the

finals of all Trophy Play

SECTION B

Tie Breakers

Should two teams be tied at the end of the regular season, the tie will be broken by;

1 The team winning the majority of games against one another during

the regular season.

2 The winner of the most games in the last two rounds.

3 The winner of the most games in the last round.

4 The team with the most points in the final round.

5 A one game play off.

SECTION C

Should three teams tie, use the following procedure. Find one winner as follows and then revert to above.

1 Team winning majority of games against both teams during the

regular season.

2 Team winning the majority of games in the last two rounds.

3 Team winning the majority of games in the final round.

4 High total score in the final round against both teams.

5 Coin toss.

Note: This will give you one winner. The other two teams revert to above tiebreaker. Should four or five teams tie, follow a similar procedure as in above.

SECTION D

Individual Trophy Play

1 Four trophies at present are available for competition by individual

players.

2 Player handicaps are taken as of the December break.

3 Players who are on the ten point system are not eligible.

4 A player may enter a maximum of two trophy competitions.

5 Team captains are to recommend players for the trophy

competition before a set date.

6 Teams are requested to not enter the names of players who are

unable or unwilling to follow the rules of the competition.

7 Players may not enter any trophy play if they are barred entry to

any member club.

8 To qualify for trophy play, a player must have played three regular

league games before the December break, and undertake to play

three more before the end of the regular season.

9 Trophy play Chairman/convener shall not be a participant in the

Division of Trophy Play he is the Chairman of

10 Trophy play Chairman/convener are to settle communication

problems/disputes between players in Trophy Play

11 Trophy play Chairman/convener have the authority to disqualify

player(s) if games in Trophy Play are not played within reasonable

time, as per the schedule set by the Chairman/convener

12 Players should not start their next round of play in Trophy Play

prior to notifying the chairman/convener of the results of previous

match

SECTION E

Lockwood Trophy

The trophy chairman will select, from the lists submitted by team captains, sixteen players with the highest handicaps. These players will be seeded into a straight knockout draw. Each match is 250 home and 250 away for a total of 500 points from scratch. The top named player is to contact his opponent and arrange a time to play that is convenient to both. First named player has choice of home or away. The responsibility of arranging the game is placed on the player at home. Should he have any difficulty in arranging the game within the date provided, he is to contact the trophy chairman. If the game is not completed within the date set, without a good reason, the trophy chairman can disqualify one or both players, and go on to the next round. The winner is to notify the trophy chairman as soon as possible.

SECTION F

McLean , Bardal And Novice Trophies

These are handicap tournaments. Match is a home and away series of 200 points each for a total of 400 points. The number of points a player loses by in the first round is added to his handicap for the second game. All of the other rules as applied the Lockwood trophy are in effect.

The place, date, and time of the finals in each event will be arranged by the trophy chairman, in consultation with the players concerned. Finals to be played on one night 400 points plus or minus your handicap.

ARTICLE #12 League Meetings

1 The league president shall call the meetings. The secretary/

treasurer shall prepare an agenda, approved by the president, and

inform the members of the time and place of the meeting.

2 The league president is the chairman of the meeting.

SECTION A

The Chairman

1 To open the meeting at the appointed time

2 Ensuring there is a proper quorum in attendance to open the

meeting

3 To announce in proper sequence the business that comes before

the meeting or becomes in order in accordance with the prescribed

order of business, agenda orc program

4 To recognize members who are permitted to the floor to speak

5 To state and to put to vote all questions that legitimately come

before the meeting as motions, or that otherwise arise in the

course of proceedings, and to announce the results of votes

6 To rule out of order motions not properly made.

7 To protect the meeting from obviously frivolous or dilatory motions

by refusing to recognize them

8 To enforce the rules relating to debate and those relating to order

and decorum within the meeting, by ensuring that both sides of the

issue have had an equal opportunity to address there concerns on

the subject/motion under discussion

9 To expedite business in every way compatible with the rights of the

members

10 To decide all questions of order, subject to appeal, unless when in

doubt, the presiding officer prefers initially to submit such a

question to the meeting for a decision

11 To respond to members relating to Parliamentary Procedure, or

factual information having a bearing on the business before the

members in the meeting

12 To declare the meeting adjourned when the meeting body so votes.

SECTION B

Members

1 arrive on time.

2 be courteous and not speak while others have the floor.

3 address the chair at all times.

4 word motions/amendments carefully (prepare motions in writing

beforehand if possible).

5 To be respectful and mindful of others opinions and comments and

to act in a professional business like manner at all times during

league meetings and social gatherings put on by the league or

member teams.

SECTION C

Agenda

1 Call to order and roll call of officers and Team Captains/Co

Captains

2 Read out all bills, communications and notices

3 Read and accept minutes of last meeting.

4 Secretary treasurers report.

5 Presidents report

6 Honorary Life Member proposals.

7 Discussion arising from reports.

8 Old business.

9 List any new business.

10 New business from the floor.

11 Set date of next meeting.

12 Adjourn.

SECTION D

Motions

1 Presented by a member in good standing.

2 Must be seconded .

3 Must be presented through the chair.

4 Presenter is first to speak on their motion

5 Members must speak to the motion when recognized by the chair,

and may speak only once until all others have had their turn.

6 No personalities.

7 Chairman may speak on the motion by delegating chair to another

SECTION E

Amendments

1 Same rules as motions.

2 Can not withdraw a motion without the seconders approval.

3 Amendments should be an attempt to improve the motion.

4 The last amendment is voted on first, and if carried, thereby defeats

the previous amendment and changes the main motion to include the

amendment

5 Only one amendment on the floor at a time.

6 Tabling; postpone a vote to another specific date.

7 Should clarification of these rules be necessary, Roberts Rules of

Order shall be the final arbiter.

ARTICLE #13 CHARGES AND TRIALS OF A MEMBER BY A MEMBER

1 All charges against any league member or Executive member,

which may be preferred by any member in good standing must be

made in writing and forwarded to the President within 5 days of the

incident, If the incident involves the President complaint to be

forwarded to the Vice President.

2 Failure to submit a charge within 5 days of the incident unless of an

emergency such charge if received will be deemed inadmissible

and will not be handled by the executive.

3 Such charge shall also make specific reference to any relevant

article(s) of these bylaws that are or may be violated.

4 Upon receipt of a letter within the prescribed time limits the

executive committee along with the life members who are still

active in the league will turn itself into a DISPUTE

RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE and deal with the charge(s) which

have been submitted to them by the President or Vice President.

5 In the event that the charge is against an executive member or

Active Life Member, or if an executive member or active Life

member is laying the charge against another member he will

recuse himself from the Dispute Resolutions Committee and the

remainder of the Committee members will handle the charge(s)

6 The dispute resolutions committee will will arrange a meeting

within Ten (10) days from the date the charges were received by

the President or Vice President, wherein the charging party and

the charged party must attend to present there cases. The

committee will hear the complaint and ask questions they deem

necessary to obtain all the facts. Each party will have a fair and

reasonable time to present their position on the event that led to a

charge(s).

7 After the charges have been heard the Dispute Resolutions

Committee will advise within seven (7) days the charged party, the

charging parties and the League Captains of what there finding

and ruling(s) are.

8 The Dispute Resolutions Committee may at its discretion assess

discipline, which in it's mind is valid, fair and appropriate based on

the incident under review.

9 Discipline may range from a letter of reprimand to a temporary

suspension from League and Trophy Play to and outright

suspension from the League

10 The committee after review, may award a win or a loss of the

Match if such charge originated from the Match being played.

11 In all instances the person being charged who is assessed

disciplinary action may appeal the decision of the Dispute

Resolutions Committee to the league executive board. The

Dispute Resolutions Committee's decision remains in effect until

the appeal decision is determined. Such appeal must be submitted

in writing with 5 days of the dispute resolutions committee's

decision. The league executive board will meet within 10 days to

review the appeal and decision of the disbute resolutions

committee. The league executive board will render it's decision on

the appeal within 5 days. All decisions of the league executive

board will be final. The league executive board will advise the

team captain of the person appealing as soon as a decision has

been rendered.

ARTICLE #14

1 The rules entered herein may be revoked or amended by a

majority vote of the members present at a general meeting.

2 Failure to comply with any terms of this constitution could result in

suspension for the remainder of the season.

ARTICLE #15 Banquet Sites

Each team in the league will accept or decline a chance at hosting League's end of year Banquet. The Secretary/Treasurer in consultation with the League executive will select a location from the teams submitting an acknowledgement that they would like to host the event. In all cases decision will be based on working within our budget.

ARTICLE #16 Other Billiard Venues

1 In order to help promote the league, the league executive will have

the authority to have teams play there league games at another

venue other than at their home club, provided such venue is equal

to or better than the home team that has been asked to play

elsewhere to help promote the league,

2 No team will be asked to move venues more than once in a year

unless they voluntarily request it

ARTICLE #17 League Property

SECTION A

League Property the Web Site and Trophies

1 The league will take care of all trophies, regarding the engraving,

repairs, etc. With the exception of the Bardal, which will be the

responsibility of Neil Bardal incorporated.

2 All trophies are the property of the Winnipeg Veterans English

Billiard League

3 Upon the League's written request, all property must be returned

within two weeks of such written notice.

4 Trophies being returned must be in reasonable condition and

cleaned, or the trophy holder will be responsible for the cost for

repairs and/or cleaning.

5 Once a player accepts a trophy, they are responsible for it's care

and keep. Trophies left for display at the home club in a proper

place will exclude the player's responsibility for care and keep of

the trophy. When returning a trophy, a cleaning of the trophy

would be recommended to avoid possible charges.

6 Failure to return league property will result in immediate

suspension until the league property is returned

7 The league may use whatever legal means is necessary to obtain

property owned by the league

SECTION B

LEAGUE PROPERTY

1. Jack Sparrow Memorial Shield

2. Harry Lockwood Trophy

3. Ward Tullock Trophy

4. Jack McLean Trophy

5. Novice Trophy

6. Tom Hargreave's Trophy

7. Ken Vincent Trophy

8. Jim Simm Trophy

9. John (Jock) Milton Trophy

10. St Georges Trophy

11. Syd Spence Trophy

12. Thomas Spearman Trophy

13. Neil Bardal Trophy ( Owned & Maintained By Neil Bardal

Incorporated )

14. Constitution and Bylaws as amended August 14^th, 2003

15. Filing Cabinet and Brief Case containing the league's records

and minutes from current and previous years meetings

16. Web site located at http://vetsbilliardleague.tripod.com

SECTION C

1 The Winnipeg Veteran's English Billiard League hereby adopts the

league's web site located at http://wvebl.com as

their official web site for the Winnipeg Veteran's English Billiard

League.

2 The web site is to show the league's and players records,

notifications and items of general interest to the league and it's

players. Advertising on the site may be used to help defer any costs

associated with maintenance and/or up-keep and/or supplies

required to maintain the web site, or for league approved

honorariums paid for maintaining the site.

This Constitution and By-Laws as amended July, 2008 will remain in effect until amended at a properly held meeting of the league.