The name of the Society is Ridge Meadows Minor Ball Hockey Association.

The area(s) of Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Mission, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, shall be known and hereinafter referred to as the ‘District’.

Article 2
Purpose

 The purpose of the Society

To foster, improve and continue the growth of Minor Ball Hockey within Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Mission, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody;

To continue with the enforcement of the rules of the game as adopted by the Society;

To supervise and carry out competitions and regional playoffs for minor ball hockey in the ‘District’ within the Province of British Columbia;

To emphasize and encourage the involvement of those who put the interest of the game ahead of their personal interests;

To ensure that the game is played in a positive environment;

To assist members in the purist of excellence by providing effective programs and services through available resources;

To monitor and review services, benefits, and programs available to the members in order to meet their ever changing needs;

To present a common voice on behalf of all members in all discussions that could effect within the West Coast Minor Ball Hockey Association;

To promote and support equal access to program and services regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, racial origin or religion.

The operation of this Society is to be mainly carried out within the ‘District’ in the Province of British Columbia as a non-profit organization. This provision is unalterable.

Article 4

The constitution of this Society shall be affiliated with West Coast Minor Ball Hockey Association under the Canadian Ball Hockey Association. This provision is unalterable.

In the event that the Society should, after a season is complete, be wound up or dissolved, the remaining assets after the payment of all debts and liabilities shall be split equally amongst the current Executives & Directors. This provision is unalterable.

1      Ridge Meadows Minor Ball Hockey Association for the purpose of these By-Laws shall be known and hereinafter referred to as ‘The Society’

BY-LAW ONE
The Society

a)    The Ridge Meadows Minor Ball Hockey Association which shall be known and hereinafter referred to as the ‘Society’ shall be composed of:

i)              Players age 19  and under (Minor teams)

ii)            All areas regarded as the ‘District’

iii)          Divisional Managers

iv)          Associate Members and

v)            Persons currently serving on the Society’s Executive Committee operating within the ‘District’ in the Province of British Columbia, willing to comply with and abide by the Constitution, By-Laws, Regulations and Rules of the Society.

BY-LAW TWO
District

2      The Society currently shall be formed into one ‘District’ as follows under the name:

a.    Ridge Meadows Minor Ball Hockey Association

Within the ‘District’ the Society governs the following area(s) as for the sport of Minor Ball Hockey:

         Maple Ridge

         Pitt Meadows

         Mission

         Coquitlam

         Port Coquitlam

         Port Moody 

BY-LAW THREE
Membership

Players under the Society shall be known and hereinafter referred to as ‘Members’ and/or ‘Membership’.

3      Membership shall be acquired by registering with the Executive, subject to By-Law One of the Society.

a)             Each member shall adopt and abide by the Constitution, By-Laws or Regulations of this Society.

b)   For the purpose of the preceding paragraph, Associations are authorized to adopt or amend their Constitution, By-Laws and Regulations so long as provisions of such Constitution, By-Laws and Regulations are more restrictive than the equivalent provisions (if any) of the Society or Canadian Ball Hockey.

c)    All new registrations for membership shall be forwarded to the Society Executive for their consideration. The application to consist of:

i)         A copy of registering player(s) birth certificate;

ii)       Supply of Care Card number of registering player(s);

iii)     Full fixed address of registering player(s);

iv)    Parent/Guardian & emergency contact information

v)        Any noted health issues of the registering player(s)

d)   All games played by members and the qualifications of all persons competing in such games as members of its teams shall be in conformity with the Constitution, By-Laws, Regulations and Rules of the Society

e)    Any violation of the Constitution, By-Laws, Regulations or Rules of the Society or decisions of the Society’s Executive by any member of the Society shall render such member liable to suspension and/or such disciplinary that may be deemed necessary.

f)    The membership of the Society shall commence on January 1^st and end August 31^st of the same year

g)   Membership in the Society shall cease where:

i)    A member may be suspended or expelled for willful violation of the Society’s Constitution or By-Laws or for any other serious breach of rules or regulations.

ii) Where a member is suspended or expelled, the member shall forfeit all rights and privileges in organized ball hockey in the Society until such time as the said member, Coach or Team is reinstated as a member in good standing

h) The member has not been in good standing for 6 consecutive months.

i)   A member who has failed to pay current registration dues or any other subscription or debt due and owing by the member to the Society shall be deemed to be not in good standing.

ii)  A member under suspension is not in good standing until the period of suspension has been served.

BY-LAW FOUR
Dues

a)    The registration dues for the associations are due by or before March 1^st of every year along with the Ridge Meadows Minor Ball Hockey Registration form(s).

b)   The fee will vary from year to year and division to division for every player. Dues will be set out by the Society’s Executive minimum one (1) week prior to registration dates;

c)    Failure to pay the fee by the March 31^st  to the Society will disqualify that member from further play for the remainder of the year and that year Provincials and other tournaments for that year.

d)   All original registration forms must be submitted with payment. The forms will be held for a period of five to seven years.

e)    All team rosters are considered finalized as of April 1^st along with the final draft form(s).

BY-LAW FIVE
The Executives and Directors of the Society

a)   The Executives of the Society shall be: the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Director of Coaching, Referee-In-Chief, Registrar(s), Media Relations & Marketing, Fundraising & Promotions, Equipment Manager, and Referee Scheduler.

b)   The Executives will be elected to a two-year term commencing at the acceptance of these Constitutions, By-Laws and Regulations.

c)    The Officers will be voted on by the current Executives & Directors of the Society on the 2^nd year of their term commencing by August 1^st.

d)    The President governs RMMBHA by its constitution, as well as by any related rules and regulations. The President is only entitled to one vote in the event of an equal number of votes on any matter before the RMMBHA. The President governing RMMBHA is part of the WCMBHA Board and is entitled to one vote on any matter before the WCMBHA.

e)    The Vice President assists the President in the discharge of his/her duties, and in the absence of the President, conduct the meetings of the RMMBHA. The Vice President abides by the job description outlines presented, no later than August 1^st of each year, to him/her by the President. The Vice-President is entitled to one vote on any matter before the RMMBHA. In the absence of the President from WCMBHA Executive & Board meeting(s), the Vice President is entitled to one vote on any matter before the WCMBHA.

f)     The Secretary keeps up-to-date and impartial records of the proceedings of each RMMBHA meeting, and other events, in writing, and he/she corresponds, as directed by the RMMBHA Executive. The Secretary abides by the job description outlines presented, no later than August 1^st of each year, to him/her by the President. The Secretary is entitled to one vote on any matter before the RMMBHA.

g)     The Treasurer collects all monies owing to the RMMBHA, keeps records of all related transactions, and pays all accounts payable as authorized by the RMMBHA Executive. He/she prepares financial updates as required, and prepares the RMMBHA budget at the beginning of each season (no later than February 15^th. The Treasurer abides by the job description outlines presented, no later than August 1^st of each year, to him/her by the President. The Treasurer is entitled to one vote on any matter before the RMMBHA.

h)     The Referee-In-Chief shall be in charge of all officials that are eligible to officiate games for RMMBHA. He/she shall be responsible for provide training for our officials and to advise RMMBHA & WCMBHA Director of Officiating as to how to improve the game from a rule standpoint. The Referee-In-Chief abides by the job description outlines presented, no later than August 1^st of each year, to him/her by the President. The Referee-In-Chief will also be part of the discipline panel and is entitled to one vote on any matter before the RMMBHA.

i)      The Director of Coaching shall coordinate all coaches’ clinics and ensure that the coaches are properly trained. To provide suggestions as to how we can improve the coach training of all of our members, In addition, he/she will be involved in the selection process for the RMMBHA regular season team and the RMMBHA WCC teams unless he/she has submitted his/her name as a coaching candidate. The Director of Coaching abides by the job description outlines presented, no later than August 1^st of each year, to him/her by the President. The Director of Coaching is entitled to one vote on any matter before the RMMBHA.

k)      The Fundraising & Promotions Executive shall coordinate all lottery licensed raffle draws throughout the season. To provide suggestions within the Executive Committee regarding Fudraising for the sport, In addition, he/she will be involved in the set-up and organization of an Association Annual Pub Night & Dinner, as well as contact businesses & groups within the communities regarding the RMMBHA sponsorship package. The Fundraising & Promotions Executive abides by the job description outlines presented, no later than August 1^st of each year, to him/her by the President. The Fundraising & Promotions Executive Executive is entitled to one vote on any matter before the RMMBHA.

l)       The Referee Scheduler shall coordinate all referees throughout the season to the supplied RMMBHA game schedule. To provide suggestions within the Executive Committee regarding referees within the sport, In addition, he/she will be involved in the set-up and organization of Referee meetings & clinics and liason with the Referee-In-Chief. The Referee Scheduler abides by the job description outlines presented, no later than August 1^st of each year, to him/her by the President. The Referee Scheduler Executive is entitled to one vote on any matter before the RMMBHA.

m)     The Registrar(s) shall coordinate all registration dates, collect registration fees, organize an overall data list of registered players and supply a final list prior to team/player drafts. To provide suggestions within the Executive Committee regarding registration within the Association. In addition, he/she will be involved in organizing a data list of eligible players for WCC teams. The Registrar(s) abides by the job description outlines presented, no later than August 1^st of each year, to him/her by the President. Only one Registrar (out of two positions available) is entitled to one vote on any matter before the RMMBHA.

n)      The Volunteer Director shall coordinate all volunteers throughout the season. To provide suggestions within the Executive Committee regarding volunter duties and events the Association shall take part of during the fiscal year, In addition, he/she will be involved in keeping the volunteer cheques in order and returned if needed. To keep all volunteers logged in a data format. The Volunteer Director abides by the job
description outlines presented, no later than August 1^st of each year, to him/her by the President. The Volunteer Director Executive is entitled to one vote on any matter before the RMMBHA.

o)      The Executives of the Society shall have the power to suspend and/or fine and/or take such disciplinary action that may be deemed necessary against any Coach, Team, Player, Referee, Official Scorer, Game Time Keeper, Team Official, Spectators or Parent for unsportmanlike conduct on or off the floor, or abusive language to any of the Officials, or for failure to comply with the Society’s Constitution, By-Laws and Regulations or WCMBHA Constitution, By-Laws, Regulations, BC Ball Hockey Constitution, By-Laws, Regulations, Rules or Canadian Ball Hockey Constitution, By-Laws,.

p)            Fines can not be applied to infants (minors)

q)            In cases where in the opinion of the President a suspension of greater than 30 days is warranted, the President will impose an indefinite suspension pending a full investigation. The investigation will be initiated within 10days of the incident by an Executive of the Society as directed by the President. Upon receipt of the full investigation report, the President shall impose a definite suspension.

r)             The Executives of the Society shall have the power to suspend any team official proven guilty of having played an ineligible player.

s)             The Executives of the Society shall have the power to suspend any referee or other official for conduct unbecoming of an official on or off the floor.

t)              The Vice-President shall, in the absence of the President, have all the power and perform all the duties of the President.

a)             Any Coach, Team, Player, Official, Official Scorer, Game Time Keeper, or any official of the Society may appeal any suspension or decision of the Society’s President or the President designate.

b)            Any individual wishing to appeal a suspension assessed and/or a decision made by the Society must:

c)             First appeal to the Society in question and exhaust all levels of appeal as specified in the By-Laws and Regulations of the Society in question  within 10 days of the suspension. A fee of $50.00 must be paid to RMMBHA before an appeal can take place.

d)            The individual, if dissatisfied with the final appeal decision of the Society in question may then appeal the suspension and/or decision to West Coast Minor Ball Hockey Association. A fee of $50.00 must be paid to WCMBHA before an appeal can take place.

e)             Upon receipt of the appeal the WCMBHA will notify the Association, this Society, in question of the appeal in writing.

f)             All appeals must be submitted in writing and be received by the WCMBHA President within 10 days of the original decision.

g)            The Appeal will be only heard under the following conditions:

i)  New evidence not used in the original hearing can be presented which may have an effect on the decision

ii) Appeal may be files on the grounds of irregularities in the proceedings of the original hearing that may have caused an unjust decision

iii) Appeal may be filed on the grounds that the decision of the original hearing was too severe

iv) An appeal may be filed on the grounds that there us proof to establish that the decision of the original hearing was reached in an unjust manner.

 h) The Appeal shall be dealt within 10 days of the receipt of the

    written appeal or electronically written.  If at any level the appeal is over-turned the $50.00 fee paid to RMMBHA will be returned.

BY-LAW SEVEN
Provincials and Western Challenge Cup

a)    Only those members in good standing with the Society for that particular year shall be allowed to participate in the Provincials, The Western Challenge Cup and The Nationals of that year. It is the Society & the Team Coaching staff’s descision of a particular team and/or player to participate in either the Provincials and/or Western Challenge Cup, whether it be a chosen team player list for the Western Challenge Cup or a team player list awarded to take part in the Provincials through ‘District’ playoffs. The Society will have final say in which team/player represents RMMBHA within Provincial tournaments and/or Western Challenge Cup.

b)   Players chosen to try out for the Nationals of that year will be the responsibility of the chosen Coaching staff appointed by WCMBHA. Appeals of team roster/officials for the Nationals can only be made through WCMBHA.