ART. I  NAME

The name of this organization shall be the St Teresa Athletic Association.

ART.II    PURPOSES

    The purpose of this organization:

    A.    To promote the physical development of the youth of the parish 

            in conjunction with their spiritual, moral, mental and academic 

            development.

    B.    To provide an opportunity for the youth of the parish to engage in 

            approved sport activities under the supervision and guidance of

            competent adult leadership.  ( Refer to Article XXVI  )

    C.    To promote a well-rounded program in inter-school and intramural

            sports for both boys and girls of the parish.

    D.    To approve or reject the addition or elimination of teams.

ART.III    MEMBERSHIP

    ACTIVE  -  Any member of the parish, the Pastor of the parish and his

    designated associate.  All members of the St Teresa Parish or parents

    and/or guardians of children attending the St Teresa School are 

    members of the association.  However, only members who have 

    attained the age of 18 are permitted to vote on issues or to hold office.

    Anyone who coaches a sport for St Teresa AA is considered a member

    of the association.  All coaches must be approved by the appropriate 

    coordinator.  All coaches must attend the archdiocesan Decree of Child

    Abuse.  Anyone who wishes to coach or volunteer should contact a 

    coordinator or a member of the Executive Board.

ART. IV    OFFICERS

    A.    The officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and

            Treasurer.

    B.    The duties of the President shall be as follows:

            1.    The president shall preside at all meetings of the membership

                    and the Executive Board.

            2.    The appointment of all committees.

            3.    Hold the several officers and committees responsible for the 

                    duties entrusted them.

            4.    Perform such duties as are usually attached to the office of the 

                    President.

            5.    Any motion before the Executive Board or membership that the

                    President determines to be of such a nature as to effect a 

                    major change to the Association can be tabled by the

                    President until the membership can be notified and the issue

                    can be decided at a membership meeting.

    C.    The Vice-President shall have the powers and perform the duties of

            the President in his/her absence.

    D.    The duties of the Secretary shall be as follows:

            1.    Keep the minutes of all meetings of the membership and the

                    Executive Board; read them at the following meeting and 

                    furnish one copy to all members who request one.

            2.    Conduct the correspondence of the organization.

            3.    Submit a copy of the minutes to the Pastor and Principal.

    E.    The duties of the Treasurer shall be as follows:

            1.    Deposit all money of the Organization after receipt in an

                    authorized depository.

            2.    Pay all obligations of the Organization and maintain vouchers

                    and receipts.

            3.    Present a financial report at all regular meetings of the

                    membership and the Executive Board and submit a copy to

                    the Pastor.

ART. V    EXECUTIVE BOARD

    A. There shall be an Executive Board as follows:

            1.    Composed of ( 7 ) members including the elected officers of 

                    the Association and the Pastor or his designated Associate.

            2.    Six ( 6 ) of the Executive Board members shall be elected by

                    the membership at large.

            3.    In the event of the resignation by an Executive Board member, 

                    the President appoints a person to fill the term.

            4.    Elected members of the Executive board shall take office at the

                    first meeting of the Executive Board immediately following the 

                    election.

    B.    The Executive Board shall meet monthly.

    C.    A majority of Executive Board members shall constitute a quorum 

            for the purpose of conducting business at Executive Board 

            meetings.

    D.    The Executive Board shall promote and supervise the activities of 

            the Organization.

    E.    To be a member in good standing of the Executive Board, no more

            than two consecutive meetings may be missed without a valid

            excuse; failure to do so can cause that person to be removed from

            the Board by majority vote of the Board.

ART.VI    ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

    A.    The Executive Board:

            1.    The election of the Executive Board shall take place on or 

                    before the May meeting at a time to be decided by the 

                    Executive Board.  All members, as specified in Article III, and

                    18 years of age or older are eligible to vote.

            2.    The candidates for the election of members to the Executive

                    Board shall be selected by a nominating committee.  An 

                    election committee shall be appointed by the President to 

                    oversee the nominating and election process.  The election 

                    committee members shall not be eligible to run that election.

            3.    Each year two candidates will be elected for a three (3) year

                    term.

            4.     The President and Vice-President shall be voted on by the 

                    elected Executive Board.  The remaining officers shall be 

                    appointed by the President.

            5.    There are no term limits for non-officers.

    B.    The Officers:

            1.    The term of office as President and Vice-President of the 

                    Association shall be one (1) year and he/she shall not be 

                    eligible for re-election as President of the Association for more

                    than four (4) consecutive terms.

    C.    A plurality of ballots cast in the election of the Executive Board 

            members shall decide the election.  In the event of a tie, ties will be

            decided by a secret ballot election by the membership at their next

            regular monthly membership meeting.

ART VII    DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

    All checks drawn on this Association shall be signed by the

    Treasurer, President or Pastor.

ART. VIII    AMENDMENTS

    This constitution may be amended or changed by any such proposal

    being submitted in writing and reviewed by the constitution committee

    prior to being read at two consecutive regular membership meetings.

    The Amendment shall be decided at the 2nd meeting by a 2/3 vote of

     the members present and voting.  The membership shall be notified

    of such amendments prior to the vote.

ART. IX    ITEMS NOT COVERED

    Anything not covered by this constitution shall be decided by a vote of

    the membership of the Association.

ART. X    MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

    Membership meetings will normally be held the 3rd Thursday of every

    month.

ART. XI    DISCIPLINARY ACTION

    If a member is of the opinion that disciplinary action should be taken

    against a member or officer participating in the Association, the 

    following procedure will apply:

    A.    A member may request, and the President will call a trial board

            meeting, consisting of the Executive Board.  Charges must be

            presented to the President in writing within 30 days of having

            knowledge of the alleged violation.

    B.    As in a regular board meeting, a quorum is required in order to

            transact business.  Only this quorum shall comprise the trial board.

    C.    The member filing the charges will make his presentation outlining

            dates, places, persons involved, any unusual circumstances which

            may have existed at the time of the behavior in question and any

            violations of the constitution, policy or rules of the Association.

    D.    The member being recommended for disciplinary action may make

            his presentation, outlining the details of the behavior in question. 

            Each party and all trial board members will have the opportunity for

            cross examination of both parties.

    E.    Both parties may call witnesses who are subject to cross 

            examination as described in section D.

    F.    Majority vote of the trial board is required for disciplinary action to 

            be taken against the member or officer in question.

    G.    The trial board will determine what, if any, disciplinary action is to

            be taken.  The charging party and the charged party will not be 

            eligible to vote.

    H.    Both parties may have counsel at the trial provided the counsel is a 

            member of the association.

    I.      Any charges of criminal misconduct will be reviewed by the 

            Executive Board for possible disciplinary action in accordance with

            the above stated policy referred to in C, D, and E.

ART. XII    ELECTIONS

            1.    It shall be the policy of the Athletic Association's President

                    to select a nominating committee for the Athletic Association

                    elections which are to be held before the May meeting.

            2.    Nominating committee shall consist of three (3) persons from

                    the Athletic Association membership.

            3.     Elections will be held annually.

            4.    It shall be the responsibility of the committee to insure that the

                    ballots are printed and that all nominees are listed.  Also, they

                    are responsible to count the votes and notify the candidates

                    after the election is over.

            5.    All members of the Athletic Association are eligible to run for 

                    the Executive Board.

            6.    Cut off date for nominations will be decided by the nominations

                    committee, no earlier than three (3) weeks before the election.

ART. XIII    FINANCIAL AID FOR TOURNAMENTS

            1.    It shall be the policy of the Athletic Association, after approval 

                    by the individual sport coordinator, to pay reasonable entry 

                    fees of any St Teresa team in two tournaments sponsored by

                    organizations other than the St Teresa Athletic Association.  

                    Any additional funds for tournaments should be approved by 

                    the sports coordinator and executive board.

            2.    Coaches may pay for tournaments out of their own pockets, but

                    should not solicit funds from participating families or children.

            3.    If any team request funds for any out of town trip, requests will 

                    be handled by the Athletic Association on an individual basis.

ART. XIV    FUND

            1.    Fund raisers shall be considered any action or activity 

                    designed for the purpose of generating money to be used

                    for the operation or promotion of sports at St Teresa.  This 

                    will include all raffles, drawings, sales, dances, donations or 

                    any other method to raise funds.

            2.    The activities or actions must be approved by the membership

                    with all money kept in the general fund.

            3.    At no time will it be considered proper for an Executive Board

                    member, sports coordinator or coach to seek or create fund

                    raisers for a particular sport without the prior approval of the

                    membership.

ART. XV    TROPHIES

            1.    It shall be the policy of the Athletic Association to retain all

                    trophies from teams sponsored by St Teresa.

            2.    A trophy won by a team, sponsored by an individual or a 

                    company, will be awarded to that individual or company at the

                    end of each season.

            3.    Any other options or questions regarding the retaining of

                    trophies will be reviewed by the Executive Board.

ART. XVI    AGE OR GRADE REQUIREMENTS OF A SPORT

            1.    A child playing sports at St Teresa must compete at the age

                    or grade level specified by the league.

            2.     A child plays in his/her own age or grade bracket unless 

                    his/her movement upward is necessary to accommodate the 

                    proper alignment of teams.  The moving of a child upward will

                    be determined as follows:  any children in the lower group are

                    eligible to move, the parents consent must be given for the 

                    child to move up and considered movements will be brought

                    to the coordinator for final approval.

ART. XVII    USE OF EQUIPMENT, UNIFORMS AND KEYS

            1.    It shall be the policy of the Athletic Association not to permit

                    the loaning of equipment or uniforms without specific approval

                    of the membership.

            2.    All equipment and uniforms must be obtained through the 

                    coordinator.

            3.    It is sports coordinator's responsibility to see that all equipment

                    and uniforms are returned.

            4.    Only the coordinator and Athletic Association President of St

                    Teresa will have keys to all equipment rooms.

            5.    Security cards for the gym will be issued to the coaches by the

                    sports coordinator.

            6.    All equipment and uniforms must be returned before 

                    participating in their next sport.

ART. XVIII    BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES

    A.    Budget

            1.    At the membership meeting two months prior to the start of a 

                    particular sports practice, the coordinator shall be required to 

                    submit an estimated budget for their expenditures during the

                    calendar year.  The coordinators budget shall contain separate

                    estimates for:

                    a.    League Fees and Official Fees

                    b.    Equipment

                    c.    Uniforms

                    d.    Itemized Miscellaneous Expenses

            2.    At the membership meeting when each sport presents their

                    budget, the membership shall vote to approve each

                    coordinators budget or motions and vote to specific changes

                    to the budget.

            3.    The treasurer, or member designated by the President, shall

                    keep all budget records.

    B.    Expenditures

            1.    all purchases and expenditures shall be made by the

                    coordinator requesting the item(s).

            2.    All purchases of equipment and uniforms require a minimum

                    of two bids to be presented to the membership for approval

                    at a regular membership meeting.

            3.    No expenditures will be made in excess of an approved budget

                    without approval of the membership at a regular membership

                    meeting.

            4.    The President can approve emergency expenditures, but only

                    in extreme circumstances and shall report any such emergency

                    expenditures at the next regular membership meeting.

ART. XIX    CHILD PLAYING TWO SPORTS

            1.    A child that plays two St Teresa sports at the same time 

                    (example: football and soccer) shall obtain a memo of 

                    understanding signed by both coordinators detailing the

                    priorities for practices and games.  If no agreement is signed

                    the child will only be permitted to play one sport.

            2.    The policy of the Athletic Association is that a child may play

                    a sport for St Teresa and another organization at the same 

                    time.  However, St Teresa programs have priority over the 

                    outside organization.

            3.    A child who is playing on a team for St Teresa and misses 

                    either three (3) practices or a game to play for another sports

                    team will be dismissed from the St Teresa team.  This 

                    dismissal from the St Teresa team is for the rest of the season

                    and the following season for that particular sport.

            4.    A child who misses three (3) practices or games without a valid 

                    excuses, a valid excuse is at the discretion of the coach, will 

                    also be dismissed per paragraph number three (3).

            5.    Parents have the right to appeal any decision by a coach to the 

                    sports coordinator.  If a satisfactory answer is not reached, the 

                    parents may appeal to the Executive Board for final 

                    disposition.

ART. XX    GYMNASIUM CONTROL

            1.    St Teresa School will have first priority on dates and times for

                    gymnasium use.

            2.    The Athletic Association will have the responsibility for 

                    scheduling all dates and times for the gym when not being 

                    used by the school or church.

            3.    Any group wishing to use the gym must go through the Athletic

                    Association for review.

            4.    The gym coordinator will review all requests for use of the gym

                    to determine if permission should be granted.  If this cannot

                    be determined by the gym coordinator, the matter should be 

                    resolved by the Executive Board.

            5.    All sports coordinators have the responsibility to supply the 

                    President of the Executive Board and gym coordinator with a 

                    complete schedule of events for their sport.

ART. X    QUIT LIST

    To help the child accept the responsibility of his/her actions, and to 

    protect the interests of the other children on the team, the Executive

    Board has decided to initiate a program to accomplish these aims.

            1.    A child who quits his/her team will have his/her name recorded

                    on a list for that sport.  The reason(s) for quitting will be noted.

                    Thos record will be kept for all children in all sports.

            2.    If a child quits the same sport during two (2) consecutive years

                    or any other two (2) sports during the same year, providing

                    he/she has played that sport before, the child will not be 

                    permitted to participate in St Teresa sports for one (1) full

                    year from the time of his/her quitting.

            3.    If justifiable reasons for quitting are presented, the Executive 

                    Board may agree to permit the child to continue in sports.

            4.    This procedure is not intended as a punishment to children who

                    quit, but as a tool to help the child accept the responsibilities of

                    his/her actions, and to allow the other children the opportunity 

                    of participation by having enough team members.

            5.    Coaches should report any child who quits to his/her 

                    coordinator and the coordinator will keep this list and give a 

                    copy to the secretary to update the quit list.

ART.XXII    SIGN-UP FEE

            1.    All members of St Teresa parish whose children participate in

                    St Teresa athletics must belong to the Athletic Association.

            2.    The Athletic Association will charge a sign-up fee ($40.00) per

                    child, per sport with a maximum of seven sign-ups ($280.00) 

                    per calendar year.  This sign-up fee will be set by a vote of the 

                    membership at the February meeting.  A sport year runs Fall,

                    Winter, Spring and Summer.

            3.    The Athletic Association fund does not take the place of or 

                    cover any additional costs which may be needed.  Team 

                    pictures, team parties, gifts for coaches and other such

                    costs are to be paid by each family at their discretion.

            4.    Fees must be paid before a child is permitted to sign-up.  

                    Instructional fees will be determined on an annual basis by

                    coordinators and Executive Board.

            5.    Late sign-up fees will be charged at the discretion of the 

                    coordinator.

            6.    The annual dues shall be ten dollars ($10.00) per family 

                    payable by September 30th of each year.  A family shall

                    consist of the parents or guardians and all their children

                    under the age of 18.  Any member failing to pay these dues

                    as stated as above will be automatically dropped from

                    membership in this association.  The Executive Board shall

                    have the authority to waive dues, fees or any other conditions

                    for membership in unusual or special cases.

            7.    Any family who feels they cannot pay the amounts needed may

                    contact the Pastor or designated Associate to the Athletic 

                    Association to discuss any financial problems.  This meeting 

                    and the results will be held in strictest confidence.

ART. XXIII    AUTHORITY GIVEN SPORTS COORDINATORS

            1.    It shall be the policy of the Athletic Association to allow each

                    sport coordinator to function in good judgment in all 

                    situations.  Each coordinator will be required to keep the

                    Athletic Association members apprised of any developments

                    or unusual situations which may occur during the course of 

                    their sports season.

            2.    All sports coordinators are responsible for seeing that their 

                    coaches adhere to the rules and procedures of the Athletic

                    Association.

            3.    Each coordinator will select the coaches for his/her sports 

                    team and present to the Executive Board for their approval. 

                    also each coordinator will propose an annual budget to the 

                    Executive Board for approval for his/her particular sport.

                    Coordinators and/or head coaches may choose his/her

                    assistant coaches.  The number of assistants will be 

                    determined by league rules for each sport.

ART. XXIV    PROCEDURES FOR SIGN-UPS

                1.    Each sport coordinator must have a minimum of three

                        separate sign-ups.

                2.    Notice in the church bulletin should be placed in enough

                        time by the sport coordinator.

                3.    All sign-ups and fees received must go to the treasurer

                        along with one copy (yellow) of the sign-up form.

                4.    No one will receive a uniform unless their sign-up fee is

                        paid or prior arrangements have been made.

                5.    A child may not participate in another sport until all

                        equipment and uniforms have been turned in.

ART. XXV   PROCEDURAL RULE CONCERNING PRIORITIES

                1.    It shall be the policy of the Athletic Association that the 

                        religious education of the parish children shall have priority

                        over their participation in parish sports programs.

                2.    No child shall be penalized in any way for practices or 

                        games missed while attending religious or educational 

                        obligations.  Every effort should be made by the coaches 

                        and teammates within St Teresa sports to accommodate 

                        and facilitate attendance at religious education classes

                        whenever necessary.

                3.    Conflicts not resolved at the team level shall be resolved

                        on an individual basis as they arise and are brought to the

                        attention of the Executive Board.