CONSTITUTION Approved at Special General Meeting, January, 2014 Effective inclusive of 2014 CURC Regatta

Transcription

1 CONSTITUTION Approved at Special General Meeting, January, 2014 Effective inclusive of 2014 CURC Regatta

2 1.0 PREAMBLE CONSTITUTION of the 2012 Whereas we believe that the sport of rowing provides Canadian post-secondary students at our respective institutions the opportunity to learn skills beyond those taught in our classrooms, lecture halls and laboratories; Whereas we believe in the principles of fair play for all participants; Whereas we believe that all students at our several institutions deserve the opportunity to achieve their personal best in their rowing and academic careers; We, the members of the, willingly and freely agree to be part of this association and abide by this constitution and by-laws. 2.0 PURPOSE AND NAME: 2.1 The name of this organization shall be The Canadian University Rowing Association (CURA) 2.2 The purpose of this association shall be to promote and act as the selfgoverning body for rowing programs at accredited universities and colleges throughout Canada 3.0 MISSION STATEMENT 3.1 CURA is the steward of Canadian University Rowing. 4.0 VISION STATEMENT 5.0 VALUES 4.1 CURA promotes and celebrates excellence in Canadian University Rowing by crowning national rowing champions in a spirit of fairness and inclusiveness. 5.1 We support academic and athletic excellence; 5.2 We support and promote Canadian university student-athletes highperformance ambitions; 5.3 We support a student-athlete centred experience; 5.4 We uphold the values of fair play, integrity, and respect; 5.5 We fairly and equitably address the needs of student-athletes, CURA members, and their institutional representatives. 6.0 DEFINITIONS - 1 -

3 6.1 ROWING PROGRAMME: A rowing \me shall be defined as an association of individuals who perform the sport of rowing or sculling at an accredited institution; 6.2 ROWING: Rowing shall be defined as the act whereby individuals propel a racing shell towards a specific purpose using one (1) oar; 6.3 SCULLING: Sculling shall be defined as the act whereby individuals propel a racing shell towards a specific purpose using two (2) oars; 6.4 ACCREDITED INSTITUTION: An accredited institution shall be defined as a public or private post-secondary institution that has been given degree granting status by its respective provincial or territorial government. 7.0 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION 7.1 SELF GOVERNMENT: CURA is the supreme governing body for all matters affecting the Association including, but not limited to, constitutional matters and the annual championship regatta while recognising the jurisdiction of Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) and/or Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA); CURA reserves the right to maintain its sovereign independence from amongst all other sport, and educational institutions

4 7.2 PROMOTION OF POST-SECONDARY ROWING PROGRAMMES: It is the responsibility of CURA to engage in any and all reasonable activities which support the promotion of rowing in all accredited institutions throughout Canada. 7.3 MANAGEMENT OF THE PLAYING REGULATIONS: It is the responsibility duty of CURA to design, amend, and enforce the playing regulations as agreed by majority vote at the annual general meeting; With regard to enforcement of the playing regulations, all members are required to comply with all requests for information from CURA s governing bodies. 7.4 MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: The national championship is the property of CURA and shall be called the Canadian University Rowing Championship (CURC) Regatta; It is the responsibility of CURA to ensure that the Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) Rules of Racing are adhered to at the CURC Regatta in so far as they allow for the spirit of fair play; It is the responsibility of CURA to arrange for the safe and efficient annual running of the CURC Regatta

5 8.0 MEMBERSHIP CONSTITUTION of the A member is an accredited institution in good standing with CURA Members shall appoint one (1) delegate to participate in the activities of CURA and to attend and to vote at all meetings; A delegate shall have voting rights if their member institution has participated in one (1) or more of the three (3) preceding years and paid all annual membership fees Delegates may be members of the CURA Board of Directors; One (1) vote shall be allowed to each voting member s delegate at meetings of the members. 8.2 A member shall be considered to be in good standing if it Has made payment of registration and all fees assessed by CURA; Abides by the CURA constitution and the playing regulations. 8.3 SUSPENSION/TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP: Membership may be suspended or terminated in the event that such member is no longer considered to be in good standing. 9.0 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 9.1 The affairs of CURA shall be governed by a Board of Directors, elected for a three (3) year term at the annual general meeting. 9.2 COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Board of Directors shall comprise up to five (5) members: President; Vice-President 1; Vice President 2; Secretary/Treasurer; Past President

6 9.3 POWERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Except as otherwise provided in the constitution, the Board has the powers of CURA and may delegate any of its powers, duties, and functions; The Board may make policies, procedures, and rules for managing the affairs of CURA within the limits of the constitution; The Board may appoint such persons as it deems necessary to carry out the work of CURA. 9.4 ELECTIONS: VOTER ELIGIBILITY: Only delegates of members in good standing in attendance at the annual general meeting are eligible to vote; There shall be no voting by proxy at the annual general meeting ELECTION OF DIRECTORS: Directors of CURA shall be elected for a term of three (3) years at the annual general meeting Terms shall be divided into three (3) blocks in order to stagger elections of Directors over a three (3) year cycle: The President and secretary/treasurer shall be elected in the first year of the three (3) year cycle The First Vice-President shall be elected in the second year of the three (3) year cycle The Second Vice-President shall be elected in the third year of the three (3) year cycle The office of Past President shall be automatically filled by the outgoing President upon the election of a new President

7 9.4.3 NOMINATION COMMITTEE: 9.5 TERM LIMITATIONS: The nomination committee shall put out a call to the membership for candidates for election sixty (60) days before the annual general meeting; (45) days before the annual general meeting the nomination committee shall present a slate of names for election; Nominations from the floor shall be accepted at the annual general meeting; All candidates require the sponsorship of two (2) voting members in good standing Directors of CURA may serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same role. 9.6 DUTIES OF THE DIRECTORS: PRESIDENT: The President shall: Be accountable for the oversight of the affairs and operations of the Board; Preside over or appoint a chair to preside over the annual general meeting and all meetings of the Board of Directors; At discretion, call meetings of the Board of Directors; Represent CURA in relevant dealings with other organizations such as but not limited to Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA), Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs)

8 9.6.2 FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: The First Vice-President shall: Chair the eligibility committee; Be responsible for the collection and confirmation of team rosters and eligibility certificates from all members participating at the CURC Regatta SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT: The Second Vice-President shall: Be responsible for the oversight of the CURC Regatta SECRETARY/TREASURER: The Secretary/Treasurer shall: Record the minutes of the annual general meeting and the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors; Ensure the effective communication with the membership of CURA through and the maintenance of an online database; Maintaining records of membership status PAST PRESIDENT: The Past President shall: Chair the Nomination committee, and the Constitutional and Playing Regulations Review Committee; Carry out any other duties assigned by the Board of Directors OTHER DUTIES: The Directors shall perform such further and other duties as may be required for the effective operation of CURA

9 9.7 VACATION OF OFFICE: The office of a Director shall be automatically vacated: If a Director shall resign from office by delivering written resignation to the Board of Directors; or If such Director is found by a court to be of unsound mind; or By the death of such Director The Board of Directors shall appoint an interim replacement to the vacated office, who shall serve until the following annual general meeting, at which time a replacement shall be elected to serve the remainder of the term of such office In the event that the role of President is vacated before the expiration of that term, the position will be filled in the following order (Past President, First VP, Second VP, Secretary/Treasurer). 9.8 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS: The members of CURA may, by resolution passed by at least twothirds (2/3) of the votes cast thereon at a special meeting of members called for the purpose, remove any Director before the expiration of such a Director s term of office and may, by simple majority vote, elect any person to serve out the remainder of the term of such office

10 10.0 MEETINGS: CONSTITUTION of the All members of CURA in good standing shall meet once a year at the annual general meeting to discuss matters of business relating to CURA Quorum at the annual general meeting shall be constituted when one (1) more than one-half (½) of all voting members in good standing are present including members of the Board of Directors; While an annual general meeting is in session, it constitutes the supreme governing body of CURA and all decisions, in accordance with this constitution and the by-laws of CURA, are final and binding Special meetings may be called by written notice, signed by one-third (1/3) of the members in good standing The Board of Directors shall meet at least two (2) times a year, in addition to the annual general meeting Quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be constituted when four (4) of the five (5) Directors are in attendance The minutes of the annual general meeting and of meetings of the Board of Directors, as well as any special meetings shall be made available to all members in good standing COMMITTEES 11.1 The following standing committees shall be established: Constitutional and Playing Regulations Review Committee; Eligibility Committee; Nominating Committee The terms of reference and memberships of the committees shall be approved by the Board of Directors All committees shall report to the Board of Directors as they deem fit or as required by the Board of Directors

11 12.0 ORDER OF BUSINESS 12.1 Unless otherwise approved by the voting participants, the order of business at all meetings of CURA shall be: Welcome and introductions; Approval of the agenda; Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting; Business arising from the minutes; Correspondence; Reports; Unfinished business; New business; Adjournment All meetings of CURA shall be conducted according to Robert s Rules of Order AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONSTITUTION 13.1 This Constitution and the By-Laws of the Association may be amended by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) majority of Voting Members present at the Annual General Meeting This vote will be conducted by secret ballot Any Member in Good Standing may request to amend this Constitution and the By-Laws of the Association; Forty-five (45) days notice of Proposed Amendments must be given to the Board of Directors; Thirty (30) days notice of Proposed Amendments must be given to all Voting Members