The IHSSBCA Constitution

Ratified March 30, 1996. Amended February 10, 2002.

Article I          Name

  This association shall be known as the Illinois High School Scholastic Bowl Coaches Association.

Article II         Purpose

  The purpose of the Illinois High School Scholastic Bowl Coaches Association will be to increase awareness and support of the public, school leaders, and parents for high school Scholastic Bowl competition in Illinois, to provide opportunities for Scholastic Bowl coaches to meet and cooperate in the development and communication of coaching techniques, tournament formats, and other ways of improving the quality of competition with integrity and the highest possible standards, and to promote recognition of participants, coaches, and programs.

Article III       Membership, Dues, Publications, Meetings

      A.  Membership: Membership in the Illinois Scholastic Bowl Coaches Association will be open to all persons who have a strong interest in Scholastic Bowl competition.

      B.   Dues: The annual dues shall be determined by the Executive Board [herein called the Board].  The payment of these dues entitles members to all rights customarily associated with membership in a professional organization, including the right to vote and to hold office.

      C.  Publications: The Board shall have the power to establish official publications for the association.

      D.  Meetings

            1.   An Annual Meeting for all members shall be called by the Board to fulfill the purposes of the organization and to elect officers.

            2.   The Board shall call other such meetings as it deems needed.

            3.   The Board shall meet quarterly.  Such meetings shall be open to all interested members.

            4.   A quorum (a simple majority) of the Elected Officers and Appointed Committee Chairs will be necessary to do business. Regional Representatives and At-Large members of the Board will not count towards or against the quorum.

Article IV  Organization

      A. Elected officers

            1.   The elected officers shall be Chairperson, Secretary, Ombudsman, and Treasurer.

            2.   Officers' duties

                  a.   The Chairperson will determine the agenda and chair the Annual Meeting, any other general membership meetings, and Board meetings. The Chairperson will be the spokesperson for the Association.

                  b.   The Secretary will be responsible for having minutes recorded at the Annual Meeting, any other general membership meetings, and Board meetings. The Secretary will present the minutes for approval to the Board. The Secretary will make a summary of actions taken at any official meeting available to the membership. The Secretary will be responsible for correspondence of the Association as directed by the Board.

                  c.   The Ombudsman will be responsible for seeking out concerns of individual members and bringing them to the attention of the Board and/or the appropriate officer(s) or committee chair(s). The Ombudsman shall also serve as Assistant to the Chair for Special Projects.

                  d.   The Treasurer will be responsible for preparing an annual budget to be approved by the Board, receiving and securing Association revenue, issuing checks authorized by the Board, maintaining a record of all revenue and expenditures of the Association, and providing appropriate financial summaries to the Board. The Board will authorize annually an audit of the Treasurer's records.

                  e.   The Board may assign other appropriate duties for the officers.

            3.   The officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. A slate of nominees shall be presented by the Board. Nominations may be made from the floor.

            4.   The term of office for each officer shall be for two years.

            5.   The Board shall fill vacancies until the next Annual Meeting as needed.

      B. Appointed Committee Chairs

            1.   The Board will appoint Committee Chairs.

            2.   The Board will authorize standing committees to be responsible for the following functions: Editing/Publishing, Membership, Elections, Public Relations, Competition, Awards, and IHSA Liaison.

            3.   Committee Chairs and their committees will carry out duties assigned by the Board.

            4.   Committee Chairs will be responsible for the reporting of committee activities and  recommendations to the Board.

      C. Executive Board

            1.   The Executive Board shall consist of the Elected Officers, Appointed Committee Chairs, Regional Representatives appointed by the Chair, and At-Large members appointed by the Chair.

            2.   The Executive Board shall govern the Association as directed and limited by this constitution and the bylaws passe din compliance with this constitution at the Annual Meeting, and other general membership meetings.

Article V  Amending the Constitution

      Amendments may be proposed by a simple majority of the Executive Board or by any member with a petition of support signed by a sufficient number of members to equal 10% of the total membership as published in the most recent Association newsletter.  Such proposed amendments must be submitted to the Chairperson and made available to all members at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting.  Proposed amendments will be voted on at the Annual Meeting.  Ratification requires a two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting.