SECTION 1:  OBJECT

            This organization is formed for the purpose of uniting in a central organization all members of qualified bowling teams, leagues, and affiliated individuals bowling in certified establishments in the following communities: Agawam, Chicopee, Feeding Hills, East Longmeadow, Northampton, Springfield, West Springfield, and Wilbraham.

            The boundary lines established for this association are Hampden, and Hampshire counties of Massachusetts.

           

SECTION 2: LIFE AND HONORARY MEMBERS

            Life membership in this association can only be granted by the Council of Delegates to Past Presidents or Past Secretaries.

2.1       Honorary membership in this association may only be granted by the Council of delegates in recognition of outstanding service..

 

2.2       Any individual granted life membership or honorary membership in this association will not be allowed thereby to vote at meetings of the Board of Directors or Council of Delegates.

 

SECTION 3: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

            The association board of directors shall consist of a President, 4 Vice Presidents, a Secretary -Treasurer, an Assistant Secretary -Treasurer, and 11 Directors.

 

SECTION 4:  ELECTIONS

The election of officers and directors shall be by secret ballot at the Annual Meeting and election shall be to specific offices with the exception of the secretary-treasurer and assistant secretary-treasurer who shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.

A list of nominees prepared by the Nominating Committee and approved by the board of directors shall be provided to the attending delegates.

A Delegate may nominate any qualified individual from the floor in opposition to a committee selection. Each office shall be filled by the nominee receiving the majority of votes cast for that office.

            To qualify for election to the presidency, one must have served at least one term as a vice president.

            To qualify for election to a vice presidency, one must have served one term as a director.

            For additional qualifications see Article 6 Item e of the Local Association Constitution.

 

4.1:      The terms of office shall be as follows:

            President                                  1 year

            Vice President                          1 year

            Secretary-Treasurer                  3 years

            Asst. Secretary-Treasurer         1 year

            Director                                    3 years

            A President may not serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms.

 

4.2:      Upon leaving office the president shall remain on the board as a director for one year then become eligible for election to life membership and re-election to the board with full voting rights.

 

4.3:      The officers and other members of the board shall begin their terms of office on August 1 following their election.

 

SECTION 5: COMMITTEES

            The President shall appoint the following committees:

            1. A Finance and Budget committee consisting of three members from the Board of Directors. This committee shall assist in preparing the budget for the fiscal year and submit it to the Board for approval at the October meeting.

 

2. A Tournament committee consisting of a minimum of five (5) members from the Council of Delegates. The Secretary shall chair this committee and act as tournament manager.

2.1       The committee shall set the format of the tournament within the requirements of Section 12 of theses bylaws for the approval of the board and shall direct the board in conducting the tournament.

 

3.         An Awards committee consisting of a minimum of five (5) members from the Council of

Delegates, This committee shall be responsible for the selection of association awards, with consideration of Budget limitations, their presentation and  the requirements for earning them.

 

4.         A Legislative committee consisting of a minimum of three (3) members from the Board of Directors. This committee shall be responsible for an annual review of these bylaws and to update them as necessary with amendments or repeal in accordance with the procedural requirements of Article 12 of the Local Association Constitution.

 

5.         An Auditing committee consisting of a minimum of three (3) members from the Board of Directors. This committee shall audit the association accounts quarterly and also perform an annual audit as of July 31st from August 1st of the previous year. 

 

6.         A Yearbook committee consisting of a minimum of five (5) members from the Council of Delegates. This committee shall be responsible for the publication of the yearbook; This includes the format, selection of the printer, and solicitation of paid advertisements. Collection, compilation and editing of the association data will be the responsibility of the association office and included in the duties of the association secretary-treasurer.   

 

7.         A Publicity committee consisting of a minimum of four (4) members from the Council of Delegates.

 

8.         A Hall of Fame committee consisting of five members from the Council of Delegates. The committee shall be responsible for receiving or making nominations to the MTCBA Hall of Fame and prepare resumes and recommendations for the approval of the board.

 

9.         The president may appoint such other committees as may be deemed necessary, and shall be an ex official member of all committees except the nominating committee.

 

10.       A Nominating committee of five (5) members from the Council of Delegates shall be elected by the Board of Directors. The committee will be chaired by a person chosen by the committee.

10.1     The committee will meet at least two months before the Annual meeting to select nominees for the elective posts to be filled, and shall submit its slate to the Board of Directors at the last regular board

meeting before the Annual meeting.

           

SECTION 6: ABC DELEGATES

Delegates and alternates to the ABC convention shall be elected by the board of directors.

 

SECTION 7: AVERAGE RECORD

7.         The association shall publish an average book (yearbook) with the bowlers’ names listed alphabetically. Averages shall be maintained foe at least three (3) years.

 

7.1       The average book must provide at a minimum the bowler’s name, the league name, number of games and average for each bowler and each league in which the bowler has bowled at least 21 games.

 

7.2       Summer leagues shall submit averages at the end of the league’s season. These shall be maintained by the association secretary for those who bowled 21 games or more.

 

SECTION 8: MEETINGS

            The annual Council of  Delegates meeting will be held the last Sunday in March unless it is Easter Sunday in which case it will be held the following Sunday.

 

8.1       The Board of Directors will have no less than four (4) regular meetings during the year, generally on the first Saturday of the designated monthly.

 

8.2       Board members absent from two (2) or more meetings during the year shall be subject to review by the Board of Directors for possible removal for office in accordance with ARTICLE 6, ITEM M of the Local Association Constitution.           

SECTION 9: SALARIES AND EXPENSES

            The annual expense allowances for the Secretary-Treasurer and the Assistant Secretary -Treasurer shall be set by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the year starting August 1.

 

9.1       Delegates and Alternates to the ABC Annual Convention shall be reimbursed from the association funds as determined by the board of directors with due consideration of the budget and the convention location.

 

9.2       Expenses incurred by members of the board representing the association at state board meetings or other official functions shall be reimbursed  upon proper submission of supporting documents to the Secretary-Treasurer.

                                                                                   

SECTION 10: LEAGUE DELEGATES

            Each league shall be represented by one (1) delegate who shall have one vote for each five members required for the normal playing strength of the league, not counting substitutes or extras.

 

10.1     No delegate may vote for more than one league.

 

SECTION 11: MEMBERSHIP DUES

            Membership dues per player shall be as follows:

ABC Dues                  Assoc.  Dues        Combined Dues  

 $8.00                            $8.00                                $16.00

 

The Association will collect its portion of dues from Members who are members of leagues bowling their entire schedule on lanes within the jurisdiction of this association.

 

SECTION 12: SUMMER LEAGUES

            A regular season membership card issued for the season August 1 through July 31 is valid for summer leagues.

            A non ABC member joining a summer league shall pay ABC and local dues that are known to be, or to become effective for the next season. Upon payment of such dues the individual shall become a member for the balance of the current season and the next season.

 

SECTION 13: ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS

1.         The association shall conduct an annual championship tournament at a time and place to be determined by the board of directors.

2.         The board of directors shall be responsible for conducting the tournament.

3.         ABC championship chevrons shall be awarded to both scratch and handicap winners. Handicap winners shall be declared MTCBA tournament champions for the season. The Scratch winners shall be declared Association champions for the season.