ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AND BYLAWS Lake Country Baseball Club UA Article I Name and Organization The name of this association is Lake Country Baseball Club UA. Lake Country Baseball Club UA is designated an unincorporated nonprofit association created under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, The baseball team name established within this association is the Lake Country Cougars. Article II Intent and Purpose It is the intent of Lake Country Baseball Club UA to become an association organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes to foster the national sport of baseball within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the US Internal Revenue Code or corresponding future provision of the federal tax law, by supporting youth baseball in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Lake Country Baseball Club UA consists of two or more members joined by mutual consent for the common, nonprofit purposes of educating and rendering assistance to youth baseball players, providing an accessible source of information pertaining to baseball to youth baseball players and the public in the State of Wisconsin. Lake Country Baseball Club UA may engage in any and all other charitable activities permitted to an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code or corresponding future provisions of the federal tax law. To these ends, Lake Country Baseball Club UA may do and engage in any and all lawful activities that may be incidental or reasonably necessary to any of these purposes, and it shall have and may exercise all other powers and authority now or hereafter conferred upon unincorporated nonprofit corporations in the State of Wisconsin. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles. Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes of this association. Article III Office and Duration The office of Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall be located at the address at which the President, or Secretary-Treasurer has official residence; or at such place as Lake Country
Baseball Club UA may from time to time determine, or as the business of Lake Country Baseball Club UA may require. The Lake Country Baseball Club UA may be dissolved at the discretion of the Officers of the organization. The death, removal, or resignation of any member or Officer of Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall not automatically result in the dissolution of Lake Country Baseball Club UA. Article IV Structure and Membership Lake Country Baseball Club UA consists of individuals and groups dedicated to the promotion and advancement of youth baseball through public education, training, and skill development. Membership is open to anyone wishing to render support, guidance and encouragement to individuals wishing to learn or enhance baseball and related skills and activities. Membership approval is at the discretion of the Officers of the organization. Any parent or legal guardian of a boy or girl who is eligible to participate in the program, or any interested active participant approved by the Officers of the organization, shall be eligible for membership in this organization. The Secretary-Treasurer shall compile and maintain a roster of members in good standing. Lake Country Baseball Club UA is a voluntary organization, and membership in Lake Country Baseball Club UA becomes effective upon the payment of bi-annual or annual membership dues in an amount set by the Secretary-Treasurer of the organization. Lake Country Baseball Club UA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religious affiliation, handicap, national origin, or other personal factor. The Officers of the Lake Country Baseball Club UA may amend its Articles of Association and By- Laws at any time. The members of the association may amend its Articles of Association and By- Laws by a three-fourths majority vote of all of the members of the association. These amendments shall be recorded by the Secretary-Treasurer and immediately incorporated into the Lake Country Baseball Club UA program. Article V Association Leadership Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall be governed by at least two (2) Officers, President and Secretary-Treasurer. The name and total number of Officer positions will be determined as the group requires, changeable by formally amending the Articles of Association and By-Laws as
circumstances necessitate. One person will be designated as Lake Country Baseball Club UA's agent in this state, as needed, in accordance with Wisconsin state law requirements. Officers may be appointed annually by the current Officers or elected by a three-fourths majority vote of all the members of the association. Officers may be removed by a three-fourths vote of all the members of the organization. The name and address of the person who has been designated as the initial agent in this state is Bryan Laude, President 2401 Woodland Park Drive Delafield, Wl 53018 Article VI Officers and Office Responsibilities The current Officers of Lake Country Baseball Club UA are: President - Bryan Laude Secretary-Treasurer - Erin Laude The current roles for the Officers of Lake Country Baseball Club UA are as follows. President - The President of Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall have the following responsibilities: 1) In general, supervise and control all of the business and affairs of Lake Country Baseball Club UA: 2) Conduct all association meetings; 3) Sign or execute any documents necessary in the normal course of the Lake Country Baseball Club UA operations or deemed necessary to fulfill the objectives of the association; 4) Recruit eligible players; 5) Schedule, plan and execute Lake Country Baseball Club UA tryouts; 6) Collect registration fees and return fees to try out participants who are not placed on a team; 7) Communicate try out results; 8) Supply Secretary-Treasurer with player's preferred uniform numbers and sizes to facilitate uniform order submission; 9) Coordinate annual equipment purchase with coaches and selected vendors; 10) Participate in all disciplinary actions taken regarding players, members, coaches or Officers; 11) Participate in league meetings; 12) Understand and communicate league rules and requirements to coaches, players and members, as necessary;
13) Make sure league rules and requirements are followed; 14) Assign any of these responsibilities or any other responsibilities of the association to other Officers or members within the organization, as deemed necessary. Secretary - Treasurer - The Secretary-Treasurer of Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall have the following responsibilities: 1) Make any notices and handle any correspondence required by the Articles of Association and Bylaws or made necessary in the normal course of Lake Country Baseball Club UA operations; 2) Maintain and manage the records of Lake Country Baseball Club UA (e.g. administrative documents, concussion education acknowledgments, birth certificates); 3) Maintain the Lake Country Baseball Club UA website, including team schedules, daily scores, etc.; 4) Coordinate team pictures process with third parties; 5) Have charge and custody and be responsible for all funds of Lake Country Baseball Club UA; 6) Manage and record player account balances, including credits earned and applied; 7) Complete any legal forms and tax documentation as required by local, state or federal authorities, including but not limited to tax exempt status and insurance documents; 8) Work with local park districts, schools or other organizations to secure and reserve fields for home games; 9) Complete and submit all league registration, roster and score sheet forms; 10) Schedule and coordinate participation in team tournaments; 11) Schedule, coordinate and direct the uniform fitting and spirit wear order; 12) Distribute uniform and spirit wear orders to each player; 13) Secure, schedule and pay umpires; 14) Distribute sponsorship forms to each Lake Country Baseball Club UA participant; 15) Collect sponsorship forms and money; 16) Coordinate advertisement for Team Banner with printing company; 17) Coordinate advertisement for the Lake Country Baseball Club UA web site; 18) Other duties as may be assigned by the President or Officers from time to time. 19) Assign any of these responsibilities or any other responsibilities of the association to other Officers or members within the organization, as deemed necessary. Article VI Accounting, Insurance, Contracts and Records The fiscal year of Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall be January 1 through December 31 of each year. The Officers may authorize any agent or agents of the organization, in addition to the Officers so authorized by these Articles of Association, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any
instrument in the name of and on behalf of the organization, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. No member of this organization or other person shall contract or incur any debt on behalf of the Lake Country Baseball Club UA or in any way render it liable unless authorized by the Officers of the organization. No member of the Lake Country Baseball Club UA is authorized to promise moral or financial support of charitable or other endeavors without the prior approval of the Officers of the organization. No part of the net earnings of Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, Officers, or other private persons, except that Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II hereof. No substantial part of the activities of Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public Office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles. Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an association exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an association, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code. The Officers may accept on behalf of Lake Country Baseball Club UA any contribution, gift, bequest or device for the general purpose or for any special purpose of the Lake Country Baseball Club UA. Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall obtain adequate insurance to protect its liability and players. All Coaches should make sure that practice and game conditions are safe at all times. All bank account statements, correspondence, and other records of Lake Country Baseball Club UA shall be preserved by the Officers. Records that have ceased to be of use for the conduct of the affairs of Lake Country Baseball Club UA may be turned over for preservation to a depository designated by the Officers, or discarded.
Article VII Zero Tolerance Policy Against Abuse The Lake Country Baseball Club UA is committed to providing a safe environment for its members and participants, and to preventing abusive conduct in any form. Every member of this organization is responsible for protecting our participants and ensuring their safety and well-being while involved in sponsored activities. To this end, we have established the following guidelines of behavior and procedures for our staff, volunteers and participants. All members of this organization, as well as parents, spectators and other invitees are expected to observe and adhere to these guidelines. 1) Abuse of any kind is not permitted within our organization. This means we do not tolerate physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse or misconduct from our players, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents or spectators. 2) Physical and sexual abuse, including, but not limited to, striking, hitting, kicking, biting, indecent or wanton gesturing, lewd remarks, indecent exposure, unwanted physical contact, any form of sexual contact or inappropriate touching, are strictly prohibited within our organization. 3) Emotional abuse or verbal abuse is also prohibited. These include, but are not limited to such forms of abuse as: yelling, insulting, threatening, mocking, demeaning behavior, or making abusive statements in regard to a person's race, gender, religion, nationality/ethnicity, sex or age. 4) We are committed to providing a safe environment for our players, participants and staff. We do so by appointing all coaches, officials and volunteers - and anyone else affiliated with our organization ~ as protection advocates. Every member of this organization is responsible for reporting any cases of questionable conduct or alleged mistreatment toward our members by any coach, official, volunteer, player, parent, sibling or spectator. 5) To further protect our youth participants, as well as our coaches, officials and volunteers, we strongly advise that no adult person allow him/herself to be alone with a child or with any group of children during sponsored activities. In particular, we recommend that coaches or other adult members of this organization: a. Do not drive alone with a child participant in the car b. Do not take a child alone to the locker room, bathrooms or any other private room c. Provide one on one training or individual coaching with the assistance of another adult or another child (no private/isolated coach-player training) d. If you must have a private conversation with a youth participant, do it within view of others, in the gym or on the field, instead of in a private office e. Coaches and other adult members of this organization should not socialize individually with the participants outside of sponsored activities
6) Supervision/chaperone ratio: we recommend that for any sponsored activity, the ratio of adults to youth participants be 1:8 - one (or more) adults for every eight children, with a minimum of two adults for every activity. 7) If traveling overnight with youth participants, children should be paired up with other children of same gender and similar age group, with chaperones in separate but nearby rooms. 8) We want to empower our children to trust their feelings and let them know that their concerns, fears and hopes are important by listening to them. Open communication between children and parents, or between children and other adults in the organization may help early warning signs of abuse to surface. 9) We encourage parents to become as active as possible in sponsored activities, games, practices and other events. The more the parents are involved, the less likely it is for abusive situations to develop. 10) We will respond quickly to any and all allegations of abuse within this organization. This information will be communicated to the authorities for investigation and will be reviewed by the organization's directors. The alleged offender will be notified of such allegations promptly. 11) Any person accused of sexual or physical abuse may be asked to resign voluntarily or may be suspended by the board until the matter is resolved. Regardless of criminal or civil guilt in the alleged abuse, the continued presence of the person could be detrimental to the reputation of the organization and could be harmful to the participants. A person who is accused but later cleared of charges, may apply to be reinstated within the organization. Reinstatement is not a right, and no guarantee is made that he or she will be reinstated to his/her former position. 12) We promote good sportsmanship throughout the organization and encourage qualities of mutual respect, courtesy and tolerance in all participants, coaches, officials and volunteers. We advocate building strong self-images among the youth participants. Children with a strong self-image may be less likely targets for abuse; similarly, they may be less likely to abuse or bully others around them.
Article VIII Dissolution In the event of the dissolution of Lake Country Baseball Club UA, its property, funds, and other assets shall be transferred to whatever organization or organizations operated exclusively for charitable, educational, and/or scientific purposes as Lake Country Baseball Club UA Officers may determine, provided such organization or organizations qualify as tax-exempt within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed these Articles of Association and Bylaws for Lake Country Baseball Club UA on this 24th day of June, 2013. Bryan Laude Erin Laude Secretary-Treasurer