Unit 534 Standing Rules

Inland Valley Bridge Unit 534

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INLAND VALLEY UNIT #534

Chartered By:

American Contract Bridge League

STANDING RULES

Conforming to Unit 534 Bylaws

Following are the "Standing Rules" for Inland Valley Unit #534. They are intended to provide guidelines to Board members, Committee members, Unit 534 official representatives, etc., as to proper procedure of Unit 534 business.

Unit 534's Bylaws don't necessarily contain details required to conduct most Unit business. This allows the Board of Directors flexibility to change procedures and methods as to Unit business without pursuing changes in the Bylaws.

The "Standing Rules" also specify the basic duties/responsibilities of the major committee members.

The Article numbers coincide with the Article numbers of the Bylaws under which the standing rule operates.
OBJECTIVES

As stated in this bylaw article, the Unit "requires the highest standards of conduct and ethics by it's membership". The Unit requires the same of it's Club Owners and Club Directors via the

following standing rule.

Club Director/Owner Conduct:

The Unit will monitor Club Directors/Owners to try to insure that the highest professional, ethical, and personal conduct is maintained by all Club Directors/Owners operating within Unit 534.

Directors are not to be "nit picked" on their decisions, however if a trend is noticed on "too many wrong rulings", rude or offensive behavior to players, or other inappropriate

behavior, it should be brought to the attention of the Board.

Some guidelines are as follows:

Must have a good record on paying monies due to ACBL and submitting appropriate game records to ACBL on a timely basis.

Usually makes correct rulings.

No record of rude, offensive behavior towards players in their club.

Handles loud or rude or offensive behavior from their players in a "diplomatic manner".

If a club sanction is suspended by ACBL, it must be announced by the owner/Director to the players before play commences. The announcements must continue until the

charter is officially re-instated by ACBL. The announcements must include the fact that no ACBL masterpoints will be awarded while the club is under suspension. No fees

normally forwarded to ACBL may be collected while under suspension.

The Unit may recommend that a Club's sanction be canceled, per "ACBL Handbook of Rules and Regulations, Chapter 4, Section V, sub-section G, Suspension of Sanction."

Approved 8-12-2007

ARTICLE I-JURISDICTION

The Board has the authority to determine if changes in geographic boundaries are

advised and submit such recommendations to ACBL for approval. Approved 8-12-2007

ARTICLE II-MEMBERSHIP

Any person of good moral character and residing within the jurisdiction of the Unit, or any

ACBL member choosing to transfer their membership from another Unit subject to District

regulations, is eligible for membership, and no person shall be denied membership due to race,

creed, color or sexual orientation.

Membership in the Unit carries with it membership in the ACBL. Approved 8-12-2007

ARTICLE III-DUES

Annual dues shall be in the amount fixed by ACBL. Approved 8-12-2007

ARTICLE IV-MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

A. A "Notification to membership" shall be by the most appropriate means available to the

board, including:

1. Mailings to the entire membership.

2. Written notification to club managers/owners or directors for dissemination to their "regulars" as they devise.

3. Telephonic means.

4. Oral announcements at club and/or Unit games.

5. Announcement via the Unit 534 Web Site.

B. The General Membership Meeting(s) should be held, at least once a year, immediately

preceding a monthly Unit Championship Game.

1. If possible, the General Membership meeting site should be rotated to different cities.

2. If a specified quorum of 25 members is not present, no business may be conducted.

The President of the Board should then schedule another General Membership

meeting at an appropriate time. approved 8-12-3007

ARTICLE V-UNIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A. Number

The 10th member of the board is filled by the immediate past-president.

When the immediate past president is still on the board by virtue of being duly elected, he/she may not hold 2 seats.

If a President of the Board resigns as President, but wishes to stay on the board to finish out their elected term, the person holding the seat of Past President will not be changed.

At the conclusion of their "elected term" and this person is still the "immediate past president", he/she may then elect to fill the seat of "Past President". approved 8-12-1007

B. Proportional Representation

Board of Directors Area Representation.

1. The selection of how many members from each geographical area will be represented on the Board of Directors will be based on the membership residency in specific geographic areas.

2. The nine Board Seats are currently divided as follows:

Hemet/San Jacinto 3 members

Sun City/Menifee 3 members

Temecula/Murrieta 3 members

This division/allocation will be reviewed every three to five years.

3. No elected member of the Board shall be removed from office because of a reapportionment of seats. approved 8-12-2007

C. Term of Office

1. Normal term of office for elected members is to start January 1st and expires 2 years

later on December 31st. Newly elected members are expected to attend the

December meeting following the election to become familiarized with the remainder

of the board and to elect officers for the coming year. The outgoing board of

directors should dispose of any old business on the agenda. When disposition of

all pending business has been decided, the old board will cease business. The

incoming board will then elect the officers for the new board. Key committee

assignments may be made at this time. No other business should be conducted and

adjournment is in order after election of officers.

2. A person appointed to fill the seat normally occupied by the "Past President" serves for one year only. Their appointment automatically expires when the outgoing

board declares conclusion of business for the year.

3. The term for an appointee to a seat other than the "Past President" is only for the current year. Their appointment automatically expires when the outgoing board

declares conclusion of business for the year. The membership will elect someone to

fill the seat if there is one year remaining on the seat that was vacated. approved 8-12-2007

D. Nomination and Election

1. Nominees must be a member of Unit 534, in good standing.

2. Nominees willingness to serve must be verified.

3. A slate in excess of the candidates needed to fill vacancies should be attempted for each seat up for election.

A nominee may only run for 1 seat in 1 area. If a nominee happens to be nominated for 2 different areas, the nominee must choose for which single area

they wish to be nominated.

4. Solicitation for candidates will be carried out by the Nominating Committee.

5. The Board of Directors should balance the number of seats up for election so that half the seats are elected one year, and the other half the next year. This

may be achieved via 1 year appointments, or a 1 year elected term. When proper balance is achieved, elected terms should revert back to 2 year terms.

If an area has 3 seats, 2 should be elected one year, and one the next year. approved 11-11-2007
Election

The bylaws, by design, do not specifically define balloting procedures so as

not to require a bylaw amendment when conditions are present that would make a variation

advisable. Thus, balloting procedures have been developed to be included in the Standing

Rules.

1. Voting by Proxy is prohibited.

2. Members may vote for candidates only from one area.

i.e. It is expected that Sun City members will vote on seats from Sun City, however they may vote for seats in other areas in which case they can not vote

for Sun City seats.

There will be separate ballots for the Sun City/Menifee Area, Hemet/San Jacinto Area, Murrieta/Temecula Area, etc. If a member casts more than one ballot, they

both may be discarded by the Election Committee.

3. Ballots shall be prepared clearly showing candidates, by area, how many candidates

for each area will be elected, and provision for a write in candidate.

4. Open envelopes will be provided with each Ballot so that marked Ballots may be put inside. The outside of the envelope shall clearly indicate NAME, SIGNATURE,

and ACBL membership number of voting member.

5. All Ballots shall be "secret" in nature.

a. Members must be allowed to mark their ballots in private.

b. Members will place their marked ballot in the envelope, and seal it.

6. As specified in the bylaws, voting for the Board of Directors for the following year

should be conducted at the general membership meeting in November. The bylaws also permit absentee voting. To encourage a higher turn-out of the electorate, the

absentee method will be used. Ballots will be distributed to members at each club game during October and November and will be counted prior to the November Unit

game. Club owners and/or directors will explain the ballot as follows:

a. Vote for only the number of seats specified on one ballot only.

b. Write-in candidates are allowed. The candidate should be consulted by the

voter to ensure a willingness to serve.

c. Members attending several games should be cautioned to vote only once.

Duplicate ballots will be discarded.

d. Return marked ballots to owner/director in sealed envelopes for distribution

to the election committee.

e. Attendees at the November Unit Game who have not voted may vote prior to

start of the game. The winners will be announced later during the game.

7. The Election Committee members will receive all marked ballots, meet at a

mutually convenient site and time, verify ballots, tally votes, and present results to

The Board of Directors.

Election Committee detailed duties are contained in Committee Descriptions.

approved 11-11-2007

E. Vacancies & Absentees

1. Appointees to the Board of Directors.

a. When an appointee is required to fill a vacated seat, the appointee should be from the same geographical area as the elected member who has vacated their

seat. Vacated seats should be filled as soon as possible. If no willing candidates are found from the appropriate geographical area, the seat may be filled by an

appointee from any of the areas.

b. Those who were previous candidates for election to the board might be given consideration for appointment if they are from the geographical area of the

vacated seat.

c. Candidates for appointment must agree to serve before official appointment.

d. Appointments to fill the seat of Past President expire automatically coincidental with the old Board of Directors declaring conclusion of business for the year.

e. Appointees may be removed from the Board by a simple majority vote of the Board.

2. Mass vacancies.

In those cases where enough vacancies exist simultaneously since the last official board meeting where there is no longer a quorum available, the following procedures should be employed to bring the board back up to it's intended number.

For each geographic area where vacancies exist, at least 3 Unit members from that area must be named by the members of that area to form a committee to

solicit and appoint members to fill out the unexpired terms of those board members whose seat has been vacated.

Once all mass vacancies have been filled, the method of filling vacant seats reverts back to the board again. approved 11-11-2007

F. Meetings

1. Board members are to use discretion in disseminating or discussing proceedings of board meetings.

2. The authority to call special board meetings belongs to the President, who may seek Board opinion for a majority point of view.

3. In emergency situations where Board approval is required, the President of the Unit Board, or one acting in his/her place, may poll the Board members by telephone.

Action thus approved must be confirmed by the Board at the next regular meeting, and such action appear in the minutes. approved 11-11-2007

G. Quorum

The current board is defined at 9 members plus Past President, therefore a quorum is defined as 6 members present. approved 11-11-2007

H. Powers and Duties

In Addition to the By-Laws, each officer is to have a Description of Duties which is to be forwarded to his/her successor. approved 11-11- 2007

I. Board Membership

The Unit Board of Directors shall be the sole judge of its membership. approved 11-11-2007

ARTICLE VI-UNIT OFFICERS

A The Treasurer shall supervise an annual inventory of all Unit materials, equipment, assets,

etc., prior to the newly elected Board being seated. A report of this inventory shall be

presented to the Board of Directors at the December meeting.

B. The offices of President and Vice-President can be filled only by board members elected by

membership to same. No appointed board member or a person filling the "past president"

seat may be President or Vice president. There are two exceptions:

1. No members of the board are "elected" (disaster, mass resignation, etc.).

2. No elected member of the board wishes to serve as either officer. approved 8-12-2007

ARTICLE VII-IMPEACHMENT

A Board member appointed by the board itself may be removed from the board by a simple majority vote. A Board member elected by the membership may be removed only as prescribed in the

Impeachment article in the bylaws.

A President who has been removed from the board by virtue of impeachment, may not hold the seat of "past president". approved 8-12-2007

ARTICLE VIII-TOURNAMENTS

Unit Tournament activity is managed by the Tournament Committee.

A. Tournament Management Structure

Tournament Committee Chair is in overall charge of Tournament activity.

Reporting to Tournament Committee Chair are the following:

1. Manager of Unit Games.

2. Sectional Tournament Manager(s).

3. NAOP (North American Open Pairs) coordinator.

4. GNT (Grand National Teams) coordinator.

B. Unit Tournaments

The Unit conducts numerous tournaments during the year. They are:

1. Monthly Unit Championships, usually held on the 2nd Sunday of each month.

The date may be moved to accommodate major holidays.

They are normally run by a "Unit Game Manager".

2. Unit Sectional Tournaments, usually held twice a year in July and November.

They are usually a 3 day event (Fri, Sat, Sun) , 2 sessions per day.

They are normally run by a "Sectional Game Manager".

3. Unit 299er Section Tournament, held once a year, usually in August. This

Is usually a 2-day event, 2 sessions per day. It is normally run by a “Sectional

Game Manager”.

4. NAOP (North American Open Pairs), an ACBL national competition.

Qualifying rounds held at the local club/Unit level.

The NAOP coordinator lobbies the various Club Owner/Directors to hold

qualification rounds at their clubs.

5. GNT (Grand National Teams), an ACBL national competition.

Qualifying rounds held at the local club/Unit level.

The GNT coordinator lobbies the various Club Owner/Directors to hold qualification rounds at their clubs.

Detailed Job Descriptions for Tournament activity is in the "Committee Descriptions" section of this document. approved 8-12-2007

ARTICLE IX-COMMITTEES

A. Personnel officially representing Unit 534 in various capacities at Unit 534 sponsored

Activities should be approved by the Board of Directors. The list includes but not

limited to:

1. Tournament Committee chair.

2. Sectional Tournament Manager(s).

3. Manager of Unit Games

4. Instructor(s) in educational programs.

5. "Lecturers" at Summer/Fall Sectionals.

B. Committees.

The following committees should be considered "Standing Committees"

1. Tournament Committee

2. Membership

3. Hospitality

4. Charity

5. Conduct and Ethics

6. Unit Education Liaison

7. Publicity

8. Novices

9. NAOP/GNT Tournament Coordinator

Other committees required at appropriate times of the year are:

10. Nominating Committee

11. Election Committee.

As soon as it is determined that a standing committee is necessary, the Board shall define the purpose of the committee, the parameters of its jurisdiction, its composition and duration, and

provide the committee members with this information. (A committee should develop these data utilizing ACBL guidelines.) approved 8-12-2007

ARTICLE X-AMENDMENTS TO THE STANDING RULES

A. The board shall review these standing rules periodically so that they reflect the board's needs

to carry out the business of the Unit in an efficient and effective manner.

B. Amendment of Standing Rules.

These Standing Rules may be amended by a Two Thirds (2/3) vote of the Board

members present at the current meeting, provided that at least a simple quorum (6

members) is in attendance. Approved Jan. 25, 1997.

ARTICLE XI-PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

The proceedings of all meetings shall be governed by and conducted with the latest edition

of Roberts’ Rules of Order. Approved 8-12-2007

ARTICLE XII-UNIT FUNCTIONS AND EVENTS

A. All Unit games shall be Non-Smoking, per bylaws.

B. No alcoholic beverages shall be serve