Bylaws

BLIND GOLF CANADA

GENERAL BY-LAWS

 

  1. Name

The governing body shall be called Blind Golf Canada (hereinafter referred to BGC), a non profit organization registered under the Societies Act R.S.N.S, 1989.

  1. Objectives

The objectives of the Association shall be:

  1. To develop and promote competitive golf along with true sportsmanship amongst blind and visually impaired golfers in Canada wishing to play at a national and/or international level.
  2. To establish and maintain a calendar of national and international events as a member country of the International Blind Golf Association (hereinafter referred to as IBGA)
  3. To establish and maintain a handicap system so that members of Blind Golf Canada may compete at IBGA sanctioned events.
  4. To establish an Open Canadian Blind Golf Championship for blind and visually impaired golfers from IBGA member countries.
  5. Head Office

The head office of the governing body shall be

451 Highway 336, Upper Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia, B0N 2M0

Or at such place as the board may determine from time to time.

  1. Membership
  2. Eligibility– All members must be residents of Canada and legally blind in accordance with the current sight classification criteria established by the International Blind Golf Association stipulating visual acuity. The eye report must be sent to the Sight Classification Coordinator of BGC. Both totally blind and partially sighted golfers are entitled to full membership status.

(b)Classes of Membership –There shall be the following classes of Membership

  1. Voting Members - A blind or visually impaired golfer, having paid membership and having played in at least one IBGA-funded blind golf tournament, or an IBGA-sanctioned tournament held outside of the province in which the golfer currently resides shall be deemed to be a Voting Member.
  2. Non-voting Members - A blind or visually impaired golfer, having paid membership BUT HAS NOT PLAYED in at least one IBGA-funded blind golf tournament, or an IBGA-sanctioned tournament held outside of the province in which the golfer currently resides shall be deemed to be a Non-voting Member.
  3. First Year Members - A blind or visually impaired golfer, having paid membership may become a Voting Member in the following calendar year provided they have played in at least one IBGA-funded blind golf tournament, or an IBGA-sanctioned tournament held outside of the province in which the golfer currently resides.
  4. Deemed Membership
    1. Any blind or visually impaired golfer, having paid membership in the Western Canadian Blind Golf Association in 2012, will be deemed to be a 2013 BGC Voting Member provided 2013 membership dues are paid to BGC by March 31, 2013 and provided he or she has played in at least one IBGA-funded blind golf tournament, or an IBGA-sanctioned tournament held outside of the province in which the golfer resided in 2012.
    2. This will apply for the 2013 season only.

(d)Extenuating Circumstances

  1. Any BGC member in good standing, who is unable to meet the requirements for “Class A” voting membership due to circumstances beyond his/her control may qualify for membership under the “extenuating circumstances definition”. The individual must apply in writing to BGC, no later than December 31 of the year in question,   clearly stating reasons to qualify as a Class A voting member. Each application will be reviewed by a 3 person committee on a case by case basis. The decision of the committee shall be final.
  2. Duties and Responsibilities of Members

Membership dues of $25.00 per annum are due on or before March 31st. Dues must be remitted to the Vice-President of Finance, Blind Golf Canada.

  1. Meetings of Members
    1. Annual General Meeting of the BGC
      1. Shall be held during a BGC sanctioned tournament as designated by the BGC Board of Directors.
      2. Notice of the date, the place, time and agenda of the meeting shall be given to the membership, either by written notice or in electronic format sixty (60) days in advance.
      3. A majority of the Voting Members present at the Annual General Meeting shall be required to pass any regular motion. For Special Resolutions (i.e. changes affecting the By-Laws), a majority of three fourths (3/4) of the Voting Members present at the Annual General Meeting shall be required for the Resolution to pass.

(b) Meetings of the Board of Directors

  1. Meetings of the BGC Board of Directors can be held, either in person, by phone, or electronically.
  2. A quorum of four out of the seven BGC Directors present and participating is required.
  3. Notices of Motion and Nominations from Members

Notices of motion and nominations from members must be submitted to the BGC Board of Directors at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual General Meeting date and then shall be voted on by the BGC membership during a scheduled Annual General Meeting.

  1. Election of Officers
    1. Only voting members are eligible to vote for the Board of Directors.
    2. All votes must be cast in person.
    3. Elections shall take place every two years when three of the six Board of Director seats shall be up for election.
    4. The first election to take place in 2014 at such a date, location and time as deemed appropriate by the BGC Board of Directors.
    5. The membership will be notified as to which three seats will be up for election.
    6. Members will be encouraged at this time to submit their nominations for the three upcoming vacancies on the BGC Board of Directors.
    7. The nominations must be submitted on forms provided by Blind Golf Canada.
  2. Vacancies

Should any representative not be able to fulfill his/her term on the Board of Directors, a new representative may be appointed by the BGC Board of Directors to fill the vacant position until suchtime as this position is due for election.

    1. Board of Directors

The affairs of the association shall be managed by the Board of Directors consisting of six legally blind elected members and the IBGA Director for Canada or nominee.

The Board shall consist of the following:

  1. President
  2. Vice-President of Administration
  3. Vice-President of Finance
  4. Handicap Coordinator
  5. Sight Classification Coordinator
  6. Director at Large
  7. Canada’s representative on, or nominee to, the IBGA Board of Directors

The Board may appoint a sighted person to assist any Director. The sighted person will not hold membership in BGC nor have any voting privileges.

  1. Management of Affairs

The Board of Directors shall have general management and control of the affairs of the association including

  1. Planning, hosting and facilitation of any and all BGC or IBGA tournaments in conjunction with the local hosting committees held in Canada.
  2. Coordinating the selection of any/all players representing Canada at a World Blind Golf Championship tournament or team event using the appropriate selection criteria (as shown below).
  3. Shall determine dates and locations for Canadian Open tournaments and a National championship.
  4. President
    1. Shall be the chair of the Board of Directors and shall cast a vote only if there is an equality of votes.
    2. May advise the BGC board of directors when called upon.
    3. Shall not have any signing authority where any monies or monetary notes are involved.
  5. Vice-President of Administration
    1. Shall take, or cause to be taken, the minutes of all BGC meetings.
    2. Shall be responsible for all incoming and outgoing correspondence for Blind Golf Canada under advisement of the Board of Directors retaining copies for BGC files.
  6. Vice-President of Finance
    1. Shall collect all dues from the members of Blind Golf Canada.
    2. Shall maintain a list of members whose current dues are paid and up to date and who also have partaken in at least one national or international blind golf tournament held anywhere in the last calendar year. A calendar year is deemed to be January 1 to December 31.
    3. Shall be responsible for the maintenance of a complete set of financial records in accordance with recognized accounting procedures.
    4. Will be one of at least two Board members to be vested with signing authority.
    5. Shall be responsible for all banking and financial transactions pertaining to Blind Golf Canada under advisement of the Board of Directors. Shall be responsible for the collection, payment and administration of any and all monies involved with the operations of Blind Golf Canada such as, but not limited to, membership dues, sponsorship(s), IBGA subsidies, etc.
    6. Shall be responsible for and payment of annual membership dues to the International Blind Golf Association and will also be responsible for the securing of funds from IBGA which have been allotted to BGC for the hosting of a Canadian Open Blind Golf Tournament or any other IBGA funded event held in Canada. BGC will not be responsible for any additional costs over and above any previously agreed upon allotted amounts by IBGA which have been accrued before during, or after by the tournament host committee.
      1. Handicap Coordinator
        1. Shall create and maintain a register of Blind Golf Canada players, and their current handicaps In association with IBGA records and standards
  7. Sight Classification Coordinator
    1. Shall create and maintain a register of Blind Golf Canada players and their sight-classification in association with IBGA records and standards.
    2. Shall at such times as requested by the Board of Directors, contact BGC members who from time to time, may be requested to provide a current and updated eye report from a registered optometrist or Ophthalmologist
  8. Director at Large
    1. Shall perform such duties as requested by the Board of Directors.
  9. IBGA Director for Canada or Nominee
    1. Shall act as a liaison between the International Blind Golfers Association and Blind Golf Canada.
    2. Shall perform such duties as requested by the Governing Committee.
  10. Tournament Participation
    1. Eligibility for participation at any BGC-sanctioned tournaments requires holding membership within Blind Golf Canada prior to the tournament date as well as meeting the criteria set forth by IBGA.
    2. Every BGC member participating in a BGC-sanctioned tournament shall pay an entry fee to be determined by the tournament organizing committee and/or BGC and will adhere to any and all conditions, stipulations, and agreements as set forth by BGC and/or the tournament hosting committee.
    3. Eligibility for participation at any BGC-sanctioned tournaments by non BGC member golfers requires holding membership within an IBGA-sanctioned Blind Golf association as well as meeting any and all criteria set forth by IBGA and BGC.
      1. Team Selection
        1. The ultimate goal of the BGC is to always have the best players, from each sight category and gender, represent Canada at any World Championship.
        2. A player wishing to represent Canada at a World Championship must meet all IBGA (currently seven qualifying rounds of tournament play within a two year period) criteria to be considered.
        3. Qualified players of either gender and from each of the sight categories will be eligible.
        4. BGC standard score for each sight category will be established in the year prior to the World Championship.
        5. The handicap rankings are listed on the IBGA and BGC website.
        6. Team selection will be based upon a combination of a player’s comparison to the BGC standard score and their ranking by handicap.

  

  1. Remuneration of Board of Directors, Sighted Assistants or Volunteers
    1. No Director shall be entitled to receive or be paid any remuneration for any services rendered in the capacity as director or member of any committee. Subject to approval of the Board, a Director, sighted assistant or volunteer may, however, be reimbursed such as travelling or other expenses as they may incur in the performance of any duty, service or function of behalf of the association.
  2. Fiscal Year
    1. The financial year of the association shall end on the 31st day of December in each year.
  3. Conflict of Interest
    1. No Director shall be required to vacate such office by reason of that Director being a shareholder, owner or member of any firm or corporation that has entered into, or proposes to enter into any contract or provide any service to the Association, or has an indirect pecuniary interest in any person, firm or corporation that has, or proposes to enter into any contract with or to do any work for the Association. That Director shall declare such interest and shall not participate in discussion or vote on such matter except that the Director may provide technical information, if so requested
  1. Limitation of Liability and Indemnification
    1. No Director of the Association shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other Director; for joining in any receipts or other acts of conformity; for any loss, damage or expense happening to the Association through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired for or on behalf of the Association; for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the monies of the Association shall be invested; for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortuous act of any person with whom any of the monies, securities or effects of the Association shall be deposited; for any loss occasioned by any error of judgment or oversight on the part of such Director; or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which shall happen in the execution of the duties or office or in resolution thereto; unless the same shall happen through the dishonesty of such Director.
    2. Every Director of the Association or any other person who has undertaken or is about to undertake any liability on behalf of the Association and their heirs, executors, administrators and estate and effects respectively shall, at all times, be indemnified and saved harmless out of the funds of the Association from and against, all costs, charges and expenses whatever which such Directors or any other persons sustains or incurs in or about any action, suit or proceeding that is brought, commenced or prosecuted against them or in respect of any act, deed, matter or thing whatsoever made, done or permitted by them in or about the execution of duties of their office or in respect of any such liability and all other costs, charges and expenses that they sustain or incur, in or about or in relation to the affairs thereof, except such costs, charges or expenses that are occasioned their own wilful neglect or default.
  1. By-Laws
    1. The Board may from time to time, pass By-laws not contrary to the Act or the Law, and may by By-law repeal or amend this By-law or re-enact the same but such By-law or repeal or amendment shall be effective only until the next Annual General Meeting, unless confirmed there at and in default of confirmation, ceases to have effect at and from that time.
  2. Dissolution of the Association
    1. Upon the winding up or dissolution of the Association, the assets which remain after the payment of all costs, charges and expenses which are properly incurred in the winding up, shall be distributed to a registered charity or registered charities as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada), as may be determined by the Members of the Association at the time of winding up or dissolution. This provision shall be unalterable.
  1. Coming into Force
    1. This By-law number one shall come into force when it has been sanctioned and confirmed by the members.

PASSED by all the directors of Blind Golf Canada on the 3rd day of September, 2013 and confirmed by the members on the __ day of _____, 2013.